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Published : 14 Jun 2026, 07:15 PM
A World Bank-funded drainage project in Savar appears to have found an unusual fundraising tool: the mosque loudspeaker.
Allegations have surfaced that "hundreds of thousands of taka" were collected from residents of Jamsingh Joypara in Savar Municipality after announcements were made over a mosque microphone in the name of the development project.
Residents say the announcements warned that drainage work in the area would stop unless they made payments.
Local authorities said the drainage construction is being implemented under the Local Government COVID-19 Response and Recovery Project, or LGCRRP, financed by the World Bank.
Savar Upazila administrator, or UNO, Mohammad Saiful Islam said on Sunday that complaints had been received over money being collected from locals in the name of the project.
Under the scheme, an 800-metre interlocking block road is being built at a cost of Tk 14.86 million, alongside a 350-metre RCC drainage system costing Tk 6.89 million.
Around three months ago, at the beginning of the work, an announcement was made through the loudspeaker of Baitul Mamur Keramatia Jame Mosque in Joypara, saying the drainage work would not proceed unless payments were made to municipal engineers.
Mosque Imam Nazir Ahmed said, “Mosque Secretary Khandaker Farhad Hossain and Treasurer Haji Md Shamsuddin asked me to make the announcement. Later I made the announcement over the mosque loudspeaker.”
Following the announcement, several individuals -- including Khandaker Farhad Hossain, Haji Md Shamsuddin, his son Mohammad Hasan Prince, and locals Jasim Uddin and Masum -- allegedly went door to door collecting between Tk 10,000 and Tk 30,000 from residents.
Locals claim around Tk 3–3.5 million was collected in total.
Residents later learned that the project was fully funded by the World Bank and that no payment was required from the community, triggering anger and demands for refunds.
A resident who asked not to be named said, “We were told the drainage would not be built in front of our houses if we didn’t pay. I borrowed money to pay. Now I’m learning it is a World Bank project.”
“Using the mosque’s loudspeaker like this is shocking. We want justice and our money back,” he added.
Other residents also alleged that payments ranging from Tk 10,000 to Tk 30,000.
Savar municipality engineers said the contractors are Soyeb Construction and Imran Builders, and no funds can be collected from residents.
UNO Saiful said an investigation would follow if a written complaint was filed.
