The National Service Programme was designed to provide unemployed young people with training, skills development and employment opportunities using public funds. However, allegations of financial irregularities amounting to nearly Tk 1.8 billion have surfaced over the programme's expenditure in Mymensingh, raising serious questions about its implementation and financial accountability.
The allegations include withdrawing honorariums without conducting training sessions, opening bank accounts using false identification documents, withdrawing money through forged bills and vouchers, and irregularities in distributing allowances to field-level workers. An additional allegation has emerged that an investigation report related to the alleged corruption went missing from the office of the secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to information provided by the complainant, Tk 29,211,000,512 was allocated for the programme across 10 upazilas of Mymensingh district. Of this amount, expenditure in Gouripur, Haluaghat, Fulbaria and Trishal has come under scrutiny, with alleged irregularities involving nearly Tk 1.8 billion.
However, the upazila-wise figures cited in the complaint show Tk 470 million in Gouripur, Tk 370 million in Haluaghat, Tk 440 million in Fulbaria and Tk 430 million in Trishal. These figures total Tk 1.71 billion, leaving a discrepancy with the overall allegation of Tk 1.8 billion. The actual expenditure and extent of any financial loss need to be established through official accounts and audit reports.
The complaint names 21 officials and employees, including former Youth and Sports Secretary Dr Mahiuuddin, incumbent Secretary Mahabub Ul Alam, Joint Secretary Lulu Bilkis, Youth Development Directorate Director Mofizul Islam, former Deputy Secretary Robiul Islam and Deputy Secretary Dr Zahirul Islam. However, being named in a complaint does not establish guilt. The role and responsibility of each individual must be determined through a proper investigation.
Honorariums allegedly withdrawn without training
The complainant alleges that irregularities occurred during the period from July 20, 2017, to January 18, 2021, when different officials were responsible for the Mymensingh District Youth Development Office. One of the major allegations concerns the withdrawal of honorariums in the names of trainers without conducting the corresponding training sessions.
According to the case application, 452 classes were recorded in the name of Farzana Parvin, 434 in the name of Nuruzzaman Chowdhury, 434 in the name of Joaher Ali Mia and 833 in the name of Abu Julhas in Trishal upazila.
The complaint further states that, across different upazilas, 1,848 classes were recorded in Farzana Parvin's name, 1,708 in Nuruzzaman Chowdhury's name, 1,704 in Joaher Ali Mia's name and 1,257 in Nandan Kumar Debnath's name.
Under the programme's schedule, the first training session was supposed to run from 9:00am to 1:00pm, while the second session was scheduled from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Whether such a large number of classes actually took place needs to be verified by examining training registers, attendance sheets, statements from trainees and honorarium payment records.
Allegations of fake bank accounts and forged vouchers
The complainant has also raised allegations of irregularities in distributing allowances to field workers. According to him, birth registration certificates were used in some cases instead of national identity cards to open bank accounts.
He further alleges that government funds were withdrawn through false identification documents, educational certificates and forged bills and vouchers during the distribution process through Dutch-Bangla Bank.
According to the complainant, a district administration investigation committee was formed following media reports about expenditure amounting to Tk 430 million in Trishal upazila. He claims that the committee identified irregularities involving withdrawals through fictitious bank accounts and recommended the return of Tk 5.3 million to the government treasury.
However, whether the recommendation was implemented and the money actually returned needs to be established through relevant official documents.
The complainant also said that a departmental case was filed against then Trishal Upazila Youth Development Officer Md Abu Julhas and that he was subsequently transferred to Haluaghat. Details of the outcome of the departmental proceedings and subsequent administrative action need to be made public.
Allegation of missing investigation records
Alongside the allegations of financial misconduct, claims that investigation records went missing have raised further concerns.
Journalist and complainant Md Khairul Alam Rafiq alleges that an investigation report prepared into irregularities in the National Service Programme disappeared from the office of the secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He also claims that some documents related to corruption investigations were removed without permission from the office of Deputy Director Rokon Uddin, an investigation officer of the Youth Development Directorate.
According to Rokon Uddin, he filed a general diary (GD) with the police over the incident. He reportedly said that the individual concerned had been identified through CCTV footage recorded at the time and that intelligence agencies had collected the footage and relevant information. However, the GD, CCTV footage and findings of any subsequent investigation require independent verification.
The complainant has also alleged that Joint Secretary Dr Sheikh Mohammad Zobaid Hossain exerted influence over the transfers and postings of officials accused in the case. These allegations also require documentary evidence and responses from the individuals concerned.
ACC investigation and questions of accountability
According to information provided by the complainant, the case application also includes allegations that approximately Tk 300 million was transferred to Canada through relatives of three officials. However, the allegation has not been independently verified through banking records or evidence of international money transfers and should therefore be treated as an allegation rather than an established fact.
The case application reportedly cites Section 409 of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. The complainant said the case was registered as No. 01/2023.
According to him, following a court order, Assistant Directors Anisur Rahman and Shahjahan of the Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC) Mymensingh district office were appointed as investigating officers.
However, the ACC needs to clarify the current status of the investigation, the findings so far and whether any formal action has been taken.
The complainant said attempts were made to contact Deputy Director Farzana Parvin, but she did not answer phone calls or respond to text messages. Responses from the other accused officials and the relevant government departments are also necessary. Failure to respond to allegations should not, however, be treated as an admission of wrongdoing.
The National Service Programme was intended to equip young people with skills and improve their employment prospects. Allegations concerning the programme's expenditure therefore raise broader questions about public financial management, administrative oversight and the independence of investigations.
A transparent investigation is needed to disclose the full allocation and expenditure records of the four upazilas, training registers, bank transaction details, investigation reports and the whereabouts of the allegedly missing documents.
If the allegations are substantiated, those responsible must face legal action and efforts should be made to recover public money. At the same time, the rights and reputations of those accused must be protected if the allegations are not established.
Where was the public money spent? Did the intended beneficiaries receive what they were entitled to? And, if investigation records have indeed gone missing, where are they now?