There are accusations of corruption, irregularities and looting against the multimedia classroom project to be implemented under the Ministry of Education.
It has been reported that in the 2018-19 fiscal year, Tk 960 million was embezzled in the name of Basic Teacher Training, Head of Institute and In House training of teachers.
The investigation is being carried out by planning and development director of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Dr Jahangir Hossain and Assistant Director Abdul Khaleq.
However, Project Director Dr Abdus Sabur Khan has refuted the allegations.
He said: “These accusations are not correct and an investigation will prove it.”
As per the directive of the ministry of finance, the project director can spend Tk 3 million but the expenditure has been Tk 960 million.
Abdus Sabur says: “The money has been released as per existing laws and there’s no limit on how much can be taken; in three and a half months, 161,000 teachers have been trained.”
As per the documents relating to the release of funds, Tk 1.83 billion has been released. But the total amount is mentioned as Tk 1.42 billion. There is no account for Tk 403.9 million.
Reportedly, there are no documents about the bills paid.
Sources from the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, say: “ A proposal came from a contracting firm to buy a Tk 80,000 multimedia projector for Tk 35,000.”
The project director at that time did not approve of the purchase and therefore, was removed. Then Dr Abdus Sabur Khan was appointed and accusations arose of financial mismanagement against him.
Additional Secretary Dr Aruna Biswas says: “ The Ministry will take into consideration the recommendations made by the probe committee.”
Under the said project, 46,550 multimedia classrooms, 2,120 smart classrooms and 567 multimedia conference rooms will be established.
For this, nearly 50,000 multi-media projectors and laptops will be purchased. Reportedly, there was financial mismanagement in the massive procurement involving nearly Tk 8 billion.
