Allegations of huge irregularities against ex-District Administrator
Khulna Bureau :
Former administrator of Khulna District Council and Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) of Khulna Division Md. Hussain Shawkat has been accused of widespread irregularities, corruption and abuse of power.
Local public representatives, officials and civil society representatives have alleged that since he took charge as administrator, there have been several incidents of irregular project implementation, unauthorized expenditure and embezzlement of government funds in the District Council.
Hussain Shawkat had built an “empire of interests” in Khulna by using the demands of locals, kinship and influence.
Ordinary citizens of Khulna have sought the intervention of the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Public Administration to investigate these allegations impartially and take necessary action against him.
It is learnt that after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, the interim government appointed administrators in the District Councils.
In that vein, Md., an officer of the 24th batch of the BCS (Administration) cadre, Hussain Shawkat took over as the administrator of Khulna Zilla Parishad.
Sources said that he was not promoted to the post of joint secretary even during the interim government due to a negative report from an intelligence agency.
According to the complaint, after taking charge as the administrator, he took up and implemented several projects without the approval of the Zilla Parishad meeting or the Local Government Department.
These projects include, renovation of the second floor of the Parishad building: 25 lakh taka, supply of furniture: 15 lakh taka, purchase of various equipment: 12 lakh taka.
According to the rules of the Local Government Department, approval of the Parishad meeting and the ministry is mandatory for any project worth more than one lakh taka. But it is alleged that the projects were implemented ignoring those rules.
An official who did not want to be named said that the works were done by changing the estimate by avoiding the tender process, which is completely illegal.
The complaint also said that Hussain Shawkat implemented the projects tendered during the fascist government without the approval of the new government.
Notable among these are the modernization of the Zilla Parishad conference room at 3 million taka, and the renovation of the boundary wall on the ground floor of the building at 3.6 million taka.
On October 1, 2024, the Local Government Department issued instructions that the projects approved by the previous government should be changed and new approvals should be obtained.
But there are allegations that the work is being done by old contractors, ignoring those instructions. In this case, it is also being said that unethical financial benefits are being taken from the contractors.
In the 2024-25 fiscal year, 5 million taka was allocated for the welfare, education and medical sectors of the Zilla Parishad officials and employees.
It is alleged that this money was embezzled through ‘fabricated distribution’.
According to the rules, a maximum of 30 thousand taka is available for medical assistance, and a maximum of 8 thousand taka for educational assistance.
But in reality, it is alleged that several people were given from 60 thousand to 2 lakh taka.
In addition, there are allegations that bribes of about 1 million taka were collected in the name of providing these grants.
An official said that money was also collected from officials and employees to get money from the welfare fund.
The truly sick and poor employees were deprived. The district council budget had allocated 1 crore taka for the assistance of the poor.
But according to the complaint, a large part of this money went to various influential organizations and elite forums.
Hundreds of poor applicants returned without receiving assistance, and even at the end of the year, a large amount of allocation lapsed.