The upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) of Debiganj in Panchagarh, Babul Chandra Roy, has been transferred. After a video purporting to show him ‘taking bribes’ against allocations under the TR, Kabikha and Kabita projects spread, he was attached from his current post to the Directorate of Disaster Management. The information emerged from a notification signed on Tuesday by the deputy secretary of the administration section of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Sanjida Yasmin.
The notification said that, for administrative reasons and until further order, the Debiganj upazila PIO (first class), Babul Chandra Roy, had been transferred from his current post and attached to the Directorate of Disaster Management. He has been asked to join his new post by June 24, failing which he will be considered to have been stand-released from his current post that afternoon.
Following the leak of the video, two separate committees have been formed to investigate the alleged bribe-taking, and have already begun their inquiries. The committee formed by the upazila administration has taken a written statement from a union parishad member and has summoned the upazila PIO, while a separate team from the Directorate of Disaster Management is also coming to Debiganj to investigate, it was learnt.
The PIO, Babul Chandra Roy, had earlier been accused of taking bribes in the name of a 15 percent commission against allocations for various development projects. A video of about four minutes and 47 seconds, showing money changing hands and a commission being fixed with several project chairmen and union parishad members at his office, spread on social media and in other ways. The transfer order, however, made no mention of this allegation.
The Debiganj upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), Indrajit Saha, said the Directorate of Disaster Management and the upazila administration had formed two separate inquiry committees, and that statements were being taken from those involved. The inquiry report would be submitted very soon, he said, adding that in the meantime the upazila PIO had been transferred and attached to the Directorate of Disaster Management.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report