Khulna Bureau :
Uproar in the administrative circles of Khulna division, explanation has been sought from the then regional director and current Khulna Zilla Parishad executive officer.
Major irregularities have been alleged in the financial management of the Khulna Regional Public Administration Training Center (RPATC) for the 2022-23 fiscal year.
According to the report of the Government Audit Authority, a total of 68 lakh 37 thousand 404 taka was withdrawn through 15 checks without approval.
The audit authority has raised an audit objection in this incident, which is being discussed intensely in the administrative circles.
According to the report, TaslimaAkhter, the regional director in charge at the time and currently the executive officer of Khulna Zilla Parishad, has been accused of issuing these checks without approval.
Paragraph No. 19 of the audit report states that in the financial year 2022-23, the RPATC Khulna Accounts Department issued 15 separate cheques without the signature or permission of the authorities.
According to the Government Financial Management Rules, approval is mandatory for every cheque or expenditure, but this rule is violated, the report says.
According to the report, a total of Tk 68 lakh 37 thousand 404 was withdrawn through these cheques, none of which was specifically approved for expenditure.
In this regard, the Audit Department said that such activities are considered as ‘serious administrative irregularities in financial management’.
In this context, an explanation has been sought from the then Regional Director and Executive Officer of Khulna Zilla Parishad, Taslima Akhter, on the instructions of the Ministry of Public Administration.
A letter signed by Deputy Director (Deputy Secretary) KhatuneJannat said, ‘A request is made to inform the reasonable reason for withdrawing the said amount without the permission of the authorities on an urgent basis.’
The letter also mentions that a three-page audit document was sent as an attachment in this incident on September 28.
However, no official of RPATC Khulna immediately agreed to comment on the matter.
Multiple sources in the organization said that since receiving the audit objection, verification of accounting documents has been going on.
The higher authorities have been informed of the matter and a preliminary explanation is being prepared.
Audit sources said that allegations of irregularities had been raised in Khulna RPATC before.
Especially, evidence of inconsistencies in training activities, purchase of equipment and payment of allowances to trainees had been found in previous audits.
Not only Khulna, but also other training institutions are facing similar irregularities due to lack of regular financial supervision.
Many times, expenses are spent without approval, and then an attempt is made to validate it by adding it to the documents.
Those concerned believe that if administrative and financial accountability is not ensured in important training centers like RPATC Khulna, the quality of training activities of the field administration will also be questioned.
Sources say that the Ministry of Public Administration will not tolerate any unauthorized transactions in the management of government funds. Necessary administrative action will be taken after investigation.
The internal audit team of the ministry is reviewing the matter after receiving the audit objection. If necessary, the ACC may also be included in the investigation.
Meanwhile, responsible officials of the Khulna division say that the results of this investigation will set a precedent in the management of administrative training.
According to them, “If the results of the investigation are published, financial transparency and accountability will be strengthened in other administrative training centers in the future.
Administrative analysts and government accounting management experts believe that it is important not only to seek an explanation in this incident, but also to reevaluate the entire process.
A former additional secretary, who did not want to be named, said, “Audit objection does not mean just a mistake in the papers it is a signal of accountability.
If it is found that government funds have been withdrawn without authorization, it will be considered an administrative offense.
“He also said, “In such incidents, responsibility must be determined quickly, the concerned official must explain and necessary legal action must be taken. Otherwise, similar irregularities will be encouraged at other levels of administration.”
