Ex-interim Govt cripples Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha by taking away grant money
Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha Chairperson Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla on Saturday alleged that the former Interim Government has crippled Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha by taking away its Tk 20 crore given as the grand from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund.
She made the allegation at a press conference held at the Riya Gop Women’s Sports Complex in Dhanmondi. The organization’s General Secretary Firoza Karim Nelli, Vice-President Firoza Khatun, Member Elina Shammi, among others, others were present at the press conference.
In a written statement at the press conference, Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla said this money was taken away from Sonali Bank, corporate branch of the Prime Minister’s Office, on the instruction of ex-Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus, and at the directives of the then Principal Secretary Md. Siraj Uddin Miah alias Siraj Uddin Sathi.
But the matter was not informed to anyone in the organization, including the Chairperson of Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha, she alleged.
As the Chairperson of the organization, Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla urged the present government for immediate return of the full amount to the Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha.
Besides, demanded a fair investigation into how the money was taken away and why the path of women’s sports, development and empowerment was obstructed. She also sought the intervention of the Prime Minister, the State-Minister for Sports and the authorities concerned.
She mentioned that a total of Tk 20 crore was given as a grant from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund to Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha through two checques on April 21, 2022 and February 13, 2024. It was mentioned that 80 percent of the dividend of that fund would be used for the development of Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha and the remaining 20 percent would be added to the seed money. Even after the fall of the government on August 5, 2024, the dividend payment continued until August 2025.
Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla said that after that, the dividend payment was suddenly stopped. The Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha contacted the bank authorities several times to find out the reason for this. But the bank authorities did not cooperate in providing any information.
She said that on May 6, 2025, when the general secretary and accountant of the organization appeared at the bank, it was verbally informed that the Tk 20 crore grant to Bangladesh Mahila Krira Songstha was canceled by the Dr. Yunus-led interim government and the returned to the Relief and Welfare fund.
