Sunday (February 18) was the last date to submit the report of the inquiry committee formed in the case of embezzlement of Tk 96 lakh 90 thousand in fake bill-vouchers in Chittagong Railway East. But the committee did not submit the investigation report till 11 pm on Monday (February 19). When the report will be submitted, the head of the investigation committee and the concerned officials of the railway did not say. At the same time, no case has been filed in this incident yet. They could not even identify who embezzled the money.
When asked about the reason for not submitting the investigation report even after the deadline, Jayshree Mazumder, Divisional Accounts Officer, Railway Eastern Zone, convener of the committee told Rashmi Bangla Tribune, ‘Investigation is going on. I can’t say anything about it.’
When asked about the same, Railway Eastern Accountant and Member Secretary of the Investigation Committee. Abdullah Al Asif said, ‘The investigation is not over yet. It will take more time. After that the report will be submitted.’
When asked whether anyone involved in money embezzlement has been identified, Railway Eastern Additional Finance Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer Md. Saidur Rahman Sarkar said, ‘Investigation on the matter is ongoing. After receiving the report, those involved in the incident can be identified. After that legal and departmental action will be taken against them.’
According to the sources of the Railway Eastern Zone Equipment Controller, several railway equipments were purchased through an agreement with the contracting company Messrs. The Cosmopolitan Corporation in the last financial year. Chief Equipment Controller Farid Uddin wrote to the Accounts Department to pay four work bills of Tk 3.62 million to Cosmopolitan. The contractor takes the money. However, a problem arose, apart from this amount, another 96 lakh 90 thousand rupees were withdrawn in the name of the contractor. The fact that so much money was taken without giving any goods to the railways created a sensation. In the face of discussion and criticism, the railway formed a four-member committee to investigate the incident on February 8.
On February 11, additional financial adviser and chief accounting officer of the Eastern Railway. In a letter signed by Saidur Rahman government, it is said that during the coordination of the budget and expenditure account on February 7, it was seen that on December 28, a suspicious bill of Tk. Which is a stage of serious financial irregularities. The following officials were responsible for passing the bill and paying through cheque. Seven officers and employees were temporarily suspended for the sake of fair investigation. The seven dismissed officers-employees are Mamun Hossain, Md., the accountant of the Eastern Railway Region. Abu Nacher, Shimul Begum, Syed Saifur Rahman, Auditor Pawan Kumar Palit, Junior Auditor Iqbal Md. Rezaul Karim and office assistant Maksudur Rahman.
Besides, the railway authorities formed a four-member committee to investigate the incident on February 8. Jayashree Majumder Rashmi, Divisional Accounts Officer, Railway Eastern Zone, was appointed as the convener of the committee. Besides, Accountant Abdullah Al Asif, Member Secretary, Sugriv Chakma and Md. Zahirul Islam was made a member. The committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days.
At the same time the committee was told that the bill paid to the Cosmopolitan Corporation needed to be investigated on an urgent basis. Scrutinize how the bill was passed and paid to identify those involved. Recommendations should be made so that such incidents do not happen again in the future.
Nabil Ahsan, the owner of the contractor company Cosmopolitan Corporation, said, “The railway authority has paid the money due to the company for the supply of goods through four checks on December 28. However, check number five i.e. 96 lakh 90 thousand taka was withdrawn on the fake bill-voucher. This check was not accepted by Cosmopolitan Corporation. The check money was embezzled with the connivance of the Railway Finance Department officials. We have no affiliation here.’
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