Wash block project worth 7 crore taka irregularities in Osmaninagar!

S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
There have been allegations of various irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the wash block construction project worth about 7 crore taka in 45 primary schools in 8 unions in Osmaninagar. There are many allegations including handing over the work without completing it, using low-quality construction materials, defects in the construction work and leaving the work for a long time. Even though there are widespread irregularities in such a big government project at the upazila level, no one seems to notice.
According to sources from the Sylhet District Public Health Office, under PEDP-4, four contracting organizations, namely Sonali Syndicate (Package No. 1235), M/s MEP ATM JB (Package No. 1219), Setu Enterprise (Package No. 1218) and Md. Sadekur Rahman (Package No. 2022), were awarded the work of constructing wash blocks in 45 schools in Osmaninagar for students in 4 separate packages for the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24. But even though the listed contractors got the work, they were not able to provide any specific information about the project. When the Upazila Public Health Engineer’s office was visited for primary information collection, they expressed their inability to provide information. Almost the same situation was seen when they went to the District Public Health Engineer’s office. Although they were annoyed and gave some information, the progress report of the work was given about 4 to 5 months ago. Information was not given about the abandoned work of the improvement toilet. After visiting the schools and talking to the heads of the institutions, it was learned that the construction of wash blocks has been done at zero quota or partially. Extremely inconsistent information was found in the government office documents regarding them. The progress of the wash block work of several schools that have not been completed has been mentioned as 50 to 75 percent. Contrary to such bizarre progress reports, most of the money has been withdrawn from the allocated work. No one from the upazila or district office was interested in talking about such issues. Even the officials do not want to talk to journalists.
The investigation revealed that 15 of the 20 wash block works in the Sonali Syndicate package are being constructed in various primary educational institutions of Osmaninagar. Although the project work was supposed to be completed in May this year, work has not started in many schools. Although the work has not started, the progress report of the Upazila Public Health Office mentions that the construction of wash blocks in some schools has been completed by 50 to 75 percent. Besides, the progress of the wash blocks that have been completed by 20 to 30 percent is shown as 80 to 90 percent. By submitting such fabricated information, a bill of 1 crore 75 lakh 33 thousand taka has been raised for the project, which is about 55 percent of the total allocation.
Mohammad Mubarak Ali Government Primary School Headmaster Debashish Acharya said that the work of constructing the school’s wash block has not started yet. Despite contacting the Public Health Engineering Office many times, no results have been received. This is the statement of Abdur Rahman, Headmaster of Pathulipara Government Primary School.
In the same financial year, M/s MEP-ATM JB got the work of 5 wash blocks in Osmaninagar. The work of this project is 100% completed and the issue of raising the entire allocated money is under process. But after visiting the site and talking to the heads of the institutions, it was not found that the work was 100% completed. Rather, the headmasters of several schools said that the quality of the work was poor. So far, a bill of 1 crore 85 lakh taka has been raised under this project.
Sadequr Rahman Contractor’s package includes the work of wash blocks of 7 educational institutions in Osmaninagar. There is incomplete work in Jaifarpur and Damdarshi government primary schools. But the work has been handed over without 100% completion and the entire allocated money has been withdrawn. When the heads of the institutions did not want to sign the documents after receiving the work, the Upazila Public Health Engineer promised to complete the work quickly and ‘forced’ them to sign after requesting it. The headmasters of several schools concerned have admitted the truth in this regard.
Pranesh Ranjan, headmaster of Nij Karnsi Government Primary School, said that he did not agree to come and sign the documents for handover without completing the work. At one stage, the Upazila Public Health Engineer requested the vice-chairman of the committee. In the end, the committee’s request was signed, but the unfinished work has not been completed yet.
Many works of the project for the construction of 15 wash blocks of Setu Enterprise have been left incomplete for a long time. It is known that various problems have arisen before the work is completed due to the use of low-quality work and construction materials. The head teachers of the two schools said that the work is incomplete, including the water not rising from the deep tube wells installed in Muktarpur and Kagojpur Government Primary Schools.
Besides, the construction of the improvement toilets under the Haor Development Project at Sadipur Central Jame Mosque, Prothompasha Jameya Mohammadia Residential Madrasa, Khaiya Khair Hafizia Ebtedayi Madrasa, Moynabazar and Hajipur Bazar has been incomplete for a long time. The heads of the institutions have repeatedly contacted the Upazila Public Health Office in this regard, but are not getting any benefit. The district office said that this project was closed last year. The office officials expressed their inability to provide proper information whether all the allocated money has been withdrawn or not.

Rangbaran Government Primary School Headmaster Sefayet Ullah said, “There have been numerous irregularities in the work of the wash block of my school. I had informed the Public Health Engineer and the Education Office in writing about this. I had mentioned several errors in the complaint. The then Education Officer Mohammad Hadiul Islam had visited the site and written comments in the comment book and he himself informed the Public Health Engineer about the matter. Even after this, no action was taken.
Contractor Sadequr Rahman said, we have completed the work in Osmaninagar long ago.
Syed Taimur, owner of Setu Enterprise, said that a person named Ujjwal is looking at the site of his work in Osmaninagar. He did not give any other information beyond this.
Alamgir Hossain, owner of Sonali Syndicate, said that a person named Monir is doing his work.
Osmaninagar Upazila Assistant Education Officer Sanaul Haque Sunny said, a list of the work or problems of the educational institutions has been sent to the higher authorities. The higher authorities have also informed the Public Health Engineering Department. However, it is not known whether they are mentioning anything about the irregularities of the Upazila Public Health Office there.
Upazila Public Health Officer Syed Didarul Islam Kayes said that many contractors had abandoned the work due to the flood. Now they will start work again. The project period has also been extended by one year. When asked about the progress report of the work, he said that the work will be done. He expressed his inability to talk more than that.
Osmaninagar Upazila Executive Officer Joynal Abedin said that an educational institution had verbally complained about the delay in the work. He has instructed the Public Health Engineer to get the work done quickly. He said that he will look into other issues.
In this regard, Sylhet Divisional Public Health Engineer Muhammad Sheikh Sadi Rahmat Ullah said that he has taken note of the matter. He also suggested filing a written complaint in this regard.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad told that necessary measures will be taken in this regard after talking to the Upazila Executive Officer.