ACC starts probe into graft over Sunamganj embankments

The Anti-Corruption Commission has started an investigation over reports that millions were embezzled from funds for 28 embankments that were never built in Sunamganj.

A committee formed on Thursday will probe the roles played by officials of the Water Development Board and contractors, said Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, ACC deputy director.

The matter pulled into focus after flash floods submerged the majority of wetlands in Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona and Brahmanbaria, destroying Boro rice plantations.

The crisis was blamed on corrupt officials for neglect of duty in building or restoring embankments to protect ‘haors’ or wetlands.

The Water Development Board sought bids for 28 embankments in 116 packages in the last two years, said Bhattacharya.

“But the executive engineers and contractors plotted together to embezzle Tk 250 million without doing anything for the projects.”

He said ACC director Md Belal Hossain will head the three-member committee by the anti-corruption watchdog. The others are deputy director Md Abdur Rahim and assistant director Selina Akhtar Moni.

Md Asaduzzaman, ACC director general (special investigation), will supervise their work.

Bhattacharya said the ACC made the decision after the Bangla-language newspaper Jugantor published a report on Apr 10.

Contractors have not completed even 20 percent of the works from 116 packages in the last two years for which Tk 800 million was disbursed because of a corrupt trio of engineers, the report said. But Tk 250 million was drawn up.

It also said the contractors bribed officials 5 percent for securing the works and 15 percent for clearing of bills.

Around 171,115 hectares of fields with Boro crops went underwater in Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kishoreganj, according to Haor Advocacy Platform.

Of that 130,000 hectares of these submerged wetlands were in Sunamganj.

Farmers count losses as funds for flood defences are stolen