| Dubious deposits for 'destitute' Netrakona businesses forced to contribute to unregistered welfare fund; AL lawmaker terms it voluntary donation Star Report
The lawmaker of Netrakona-1 constituency has reportedly been realising huge amounts of money from local contractors, coal importers, dealers in white clay, two sub-registry offices and market lessees in the name of an unregistered destitute welfare fund.
Locals and sources at the LGED and the Roads and Highways Department said all contractors have to pay lawmaker Mostaque Ahmed Ruhi one percent of the money they draw against any work.
Requesting anonymity, coal importers of Bijoypur LC station alleged that they have to contribute Tk 1,000 to the destitute welfare fund against each letter of credit.
Businessmen of Bijoypur white clay mine have to pay Tk 50 per tonne of white clay while Ruhi's men collect Tk 30 per deed from the sub-registry offices of Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas for the fund.
Local sources said the destitute welfare fund has a joint account at the Durgapur branch of Sonali Bank. Durgapur Baro Masjid Imam Hafez Hossain Ahmed and his assistant Anwar Hossain are the account holders although they do not have any authority over its operation.
Branch Manager Taiyab Ali told The Daily Star that former general secretary of Durgapur upazila Jubo League Mobarak Hossain deposits money in the account, but he refused to give details about the amount deposited so far.
Talking to The Daily Star, Hafez Hossain Ahmed and Anwar Hossain said, "We do not have any authority to operate the account but we have to sign cheques supplied by Jiban Thakur, cousin of Mostaque Ahmed Ruhi and a resident of Teri Bazar area under Durgapur municipality."
They said they have information that locals including businessmen and contractors also deposit money in the bank to run a social organisation named Destitute Welfare Fund. But they know nothing about the account transactions.
Hafez said some poor people were provided with financial assistance from the fund. However, neither Hafez nor his assistant could tell the names or addresses of those people.
Talking to The Daily Star, Jiban Thakur admitted that the welfare fund is not registered. He said 380 poor people were provided with financial assistance from the fund--many were given amounts ranging from Tk 200 to Tk 5,000 as per instructions of lawmaker Ruhi.
The lawmaker usually decides who will get help upon considering applications from the poor, he said.
When contacted, Ruhi however dismissed the allegations of collecting money for the fund by putting pressure on contractors and businessmen.
He claimed that they are taking help from those who are willingly contributing to the fund.
"I formed the destitute welfare fund to help the poverty-stricken people of Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas," he said.
Replying to a question, he said it is not an NGO and so it does not need to be registered or get approval from any authority.
Ruhi said a quarter with vested interests has been conspiring against him and spreading rumours to tarnish his image. | |