Tk 2 lakh embezzled in Mymensingh school

Gafargaon (Mymensingh) Correspondent :

A government allocation of two lakh taka has been shown under the TR project to raise the ground of a government primary school in Gafargaon Upazila of Mymensingh to make it suitable for sports.

Allegations have emerged that the project funds were embezzled without carrying out any work. Evidence of this was found during an on-the-spot visit to the school.

The school is Sadhua Barihati Government Primary School, located in Niguari Union of the Upazila. According to sources at the Niguari Union Parishad office, in the last fiscal year 2024-25, Niguari Union Parishad Administrator and Assistant Upazila Primary Education Officer Helal Uddin Arif Rabbani allocated two lakh taka for levelling the ground of the school.

Following this, Jobeda Nahar, the acting headteacher, was made president of the school ground levelling project.

The project was subsequently closed in June. Four months later, the acting headteacher and the union parishad administrator reportedly withdrew the entire allocation without carrying out any work.

On Thursday, the Correspondent visited the office of the Upazila Project Implementation Officer and learned that the allocated funds were meant for improving the school grounds.

The full amount was reportedly withdrawn three months ago. On Sunday at 3:15 pm, the Correspondent visited the school and observed that not a single piece of soil had been laid. The grounds were cracked and in disarray.

Further investigation revealed that the acting headteacher, Jobeda Nahar, and the union parishad administrator, Helal Uddin Arif Rabbani, had withdrawn the full two lakh taka by showing work on paper.

When questioned, the acting headteacher stated that rain and other factors had prevented her from laying the soil so far, but she promised to fill the ground now. However, the money had been withdrawn three months ago and the project was closed claiming completion.

When asked why the work had not been done earlier, she could not provide a satisfactory answer. She also stated that although two lakh taka was allocated, the Assistant Education Officer deducted 50,000 taka (25pc ) and released one and a half lakh taka in two instalments.

Some local residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were aware that the funds were meant for the school grounds. In reality, the headteacher and the union parishad administrator embezzled the full allocation without doing any work.

The acting headteacher’s father-in-law, former general secretary of Niguari Union BNP, Nazim Uddin Pradhan, is a Lalu member, which they allegedly relied on to commit the embezzlement. They might now undertake work for the welfare of journalists.

Regarding this, Niguari Union Parishad Administrator and Upazila Primary Education Officer Helal Uddin Arif Rabbani said that since no work had been done previously, there is no harm in doing it now for journalists’ welfare. Even if it was not done earlier, completing the work now will at least benefit the school.