A government probe panel has found proof of Tk 1 billion embezzlement from an ICT project for setting up multimedia classrooms.
The education ministry formed the probe committee at the order of the Cabinet Division after allegations of irregularities and graft in the teachers training for the project surfaced.
The committee chief and Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Director Abdul Mannan said, “The irregularity occurred due to not knowing how to spend government money.”
According to Mannan the project employee was “inexperienced,” and it was important to stick to government rules in order to spend the allocated funds. “They didn’t even form the committee for overseeing these expenses.”
According to sources at the directorate, those responsible for probing the irregularities are under pressure from the top level.
They alleged that a hasty probe has been carried out in order to save project director Dr Abdus Sabur Khan.
Responding to queries on the matter, Mannan said, “We found proof of several allegations which have been included in the report.”
Saying that they were not under any pressure, he added that if anyone is unsatisfied with the report, the probe can be carried out again.
Nearly Tk 700 million was cleared in the 2018-19 fiscal year for Basic Teacher’s Training and Head of Institution Training of 1,189 batches.
Allegations surfaced that due procedure was not followed during purchase and delivery of materials for the training.
Project chief Abdus Sabur Khan, declined to make direct comments on the matter saying, “I’m not in office and can’t say anything without seeing the documents.”
Meanwhile, certificates and books worth Tk 11.6 million were printed from Agami Printers and Hashi Enterprise without calling any tenders.
Prizes worth Tk 5.3 million and training materials worth Tk 17 million were also purchased without a quotation.
Moreover, Tk 2.4 million was cleared as delivery cost of the materials to the training venues.
Investigations found that the funds were withdrawn from the local accounts and sent to the project offices through a private account.
Moreover, training implementation was shown a hundred percent although the training of all batches in the training centres did not take place and the amount was returned to the private bank account.
Chattogram District Education Officer Jashim Uddin said that over Tk 8.5 million was allocated for the training of their batch amongst which over Tk 6.4 million was spent and the rest of the amount was returned. “We returned the money to the bank account number given to us.”
Although there is no scope of venue or room charge during government trainings, Tk 190 million was shown as venue charge, room charge, internet and miscellaneous expenses.
Nearly Tk 280 million was cleared for 5,917 in-house teacher training course in 100 upazilas of 36 districts.
Although 120,000 manuals and certificates were ordered, the trainings were completed without them.