Staff Correspondent ।। The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against 13 people over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 1,18,68,583 from projects under the Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP) and the one per cent tax-funded development programme of Karerhat Union Parishad in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram.

The accused include a former chairman and former members of the union parishad, as well as a former sub-assistant engineer.

Mohammad Jasim Uddin, assistant director of the ACC's Chattogram office, filed the cases as complainant last Thursday. The commission said the cases were initiated after a lengthy investigation found preliminary evidence of the misappropriation of public funds.

According to ACC sources, allegations of irregularities emerged in projects implemented by Karerhat Union Parishad, also known as Union No. 1 of Mirsarai, during the 2017-18 to 2020-21 fiscal years under the Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP). Similar allegations were raised over projects funded by the union parishad's one per cent tax revenue between the 2017-18 and 2021-22 fiscal years.

Following an investigation, the ACC found that Tk 1,18,68,583 had allegedly been embezzled from 90 projects under the two programmes. Of the amount, Tk 30.88 lakh was allegedly misappropriated from 35 EGPP projects, while Tk 87,80,583 was allegedly embezzled from 55 projects funded by the union parishad's one per cent tax revenue.

According to information gathered during the investigation, the EGPP is designed to create short-term employment opportunities for able-bodied people living in extreme poverty and ensure income security for them. However, the ACC found alleged irregularities at various stages of the projects in Karerhat, ranging from the selection of workers to the preparation of bills and vouchers.

The commission examined statements from around 58 workers listed in the projects and scrutinised their bank account records, uncovering several discrepancies. Its investigation found that deceased individuals, expatriates, businesspeople, political leaders and union parishad members had allegedly been shown as day labourers in the project records. Fake bills and vouchers were reportedly prepared in their names to withdraw project funds.

Investigation documents identified seven deceased individuals: Nasir Ahmed, Md Harun, Md Mostafa, Hasna Banu, Ratan Tripura, Md Khurshid Alam and Hasina Begum. Three expatriates—Md Liton Mia, Md Tarek and Elias—were also found to have been listed as project workers.

The ACC said bank accounts had allegedly been operated in the names of these individuals, with records showing deposits and withdrawals of project funds. Money was reportedly withdrawn from the accounts using forged cheques and thumb impressions.

According to the commission, genuine workers were taken to banks to open accounts using their thumb impressions, but they were made to work for only four to five days at most. Some workers said they received only Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000, while many reported visiting banks no more than twice to withdraw money.

An analysis of bank statements showed that more than 90 per cent of the workers' accounts had deposits and withdrawals of approximately Tk 72,000 each, the ACC said. The commission found that these transactions did not correspond with the amounts actually received by the workers.

In one of the cases, the ACC alleged that Tk 30.88 lakh had been embezzled through irregularities in 35 EGPP projects. The commission identified former union parishad chairman Md Enayet Hossain Nayan, who approved the projects, and former sub-assistant engineer Milan Baral, who was responsible for their implementation, as key figures in the alleged irregularities.

The second case concerns the alleged embezzlement of Tk 87,80,583 through fake bills and vouchers in 55 projects funded by the union parishad's one per cent tax revenue. The ACC also alleged that works carried out under the Local Government Support Project of the Local Government Division and the Annual Development Programme (ADP) were falsely shown as works under the EGPP and the union parishad's tax-funded projects.

The 13 accused are former Karerhat Union Parishad chairman Md Enayet Hossain Nayan; former members Kalpana Rani Chakraborty, Sheli Majumder, Tahera Begum, Md Abu Taher (Master), Md Shahid Ullah, Md Belal Uddin, Fair Mia Mintu, Md Mohiuddin, Md Safi Ahmed, Md Azad Uddin and Korban Ali; and former sub-assistant engineer Milan Baral.

ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Jasim Uddin, who filed the cases, said separate cases had been lodged against the accused under the relevant laws over the alleged misappropriation of government funds.