Sylhet Bureau 

An allegation has been filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) demanding an investigation into bribery, corruption, and embezzlement involving the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Bishwambharpur upazila in Sunamganj.

The accused UNO is Mofizur Rahman, a 35th BCS cadre, who joined the upazila as UNO on September 26, 2023.

The complaint was submitted on Sunday to the ACC Chairman by local citizens of the upazila—Shafiqul Islam, Shaheen Ahmed, Wadud, Ataur Rahman Tipu, and Md. Zubayer Ahmed.The complainants attached detailed information and documents regarding the UNO’s alleged bribery, corruption, and irregularities with their written complaint to the ACC chairman. Copies of the complaint were also sent to the Advisor of the Ministry of Public Administration in Sylhet, the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner, the Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner, and a special intelligence agency of the state.

On Sunday night, on behalf of the aggrieved residents of the upazila, a memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner demanding the immediate withdrawal of the UNO, branding him a corrupt bribe-taker.

The complaint submitted to the ACC Chairman included details of UNO Mofizur Rahman's personal bank account. It alleged that during his tenure in Bishwambharpur, he was directly involved in various irregularities including bribery, corruption, cross-border smuggling, and the secret facilitation of state resource theft such as mineral sand and stone. It also stated that as of April 11, there was a total of Tk 67,30,391 deposited in his personal account at Dutch-Bangla Bank (Branch Code, Account No. 2641510015637), an amount deemed inconsistent with the lawful income of a government officer. The complaint also questioned the suspicious source of large sums of money deposited into the UNO’s account within three days after August 5.

Further allegations included that prior to August 5, the UNO was secretly involved with smuggling networks in collaboration with ruling Awami League leaders. Items allegedly smuggled from India without paying customs duties included sugar, cosmetics, spices, food items, clothes, and livestock (cows, buffaloes, goats).

The complaint also mentioned that the MLS (office assistant) of the Upazila Project Implementation Office (PIO), Momin Hossain Shimul, was used to embezzle millions of taka from various projects. Similarly, Monir Hossain, a UP member from Palash Union Parishad, was made president of several projects to embezzle large amounts of money by the UNO.

A dining room costing Tk 30 lakh was unnecessarily constructed in front of the UNO residence, wasting government funds. Additionally, small boats were built at the cost of lakhs of taka, and two single-room resorts or cottages were constructed beside the UNO office at a cost of nearly Tk one crore, all allegedly as part of the embezzlement spree. During the current Boro season, the UNO allegedly collected advance bribes from each embankment project committee in the haor areas of the upazila.

Although there is a library at the Upazila Multipurpose Center under the administration’s initiative, another library was allegedly set up near the Upazila Election Office as a trick to loot more government funds.It was claimed that the entire upazila is abuzz with talk about UNO Mofizur Rahman’s misappropriation and lack of transparency in the tender processes of these projects. The complainants demanded his immediate withdrawal for an impartial investigation in the public interest. They expressed concern that keeping the UNO in his current position could influence the investigation.Copies of the complaint were sent to the Director of the ACC, Additional Secretary (Reforms and Research Division), Additional Secretary (Discipline and Investigation Division), and the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration.

It is mentioned that a human chain was organized at the Karent Bazar area of the upazila at 11 am on Sunday under the banner of the residents, demanding an investigation into the UNO’s bribery and corruption and his removal. After the human chain, the protesters proceeded to Biplobi Chattar with a procession. When they reached in front of the Multipurpose Center, BNP activists attacked them, causing the procession to disperse and injuring at least 20 people. Later, when the protesters attempted to hold another human chain at Biplobi Chattar with banners, they were attacked again and their banners were snatched away.Participants of the protest, Shafiqul Islam Jony, Nurul Alam, and Abdur Rob said that under the fascist Awami League government, Mofizur Rahman joined as UNO and subsequently misappropriated crores of taka through abuse of power, bribery, and corruption from every source of public revenue and government allocation.On Tuesday, Imondojja, the district coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Sunamganj, stated that they are demanding legal action against those who attacked the anti-corruption protesters. He said no student movement supports any fascist. The civil society and student body believe that those who attacked the protesters are accomplices of the corrupt UNO.

Advocate Abdul Haq, a signing member (authorized by the member secretary) of Sunamganj District BNP’s convening committee, said the entire matter involving the Bishwambharpur UNO has come to their attention. He claimed that some controversial individuals under the BNP banner attacked general citizens on Sunday in the upazila and suspects that the controversial UNO incited the attack. Investigations are underway regarding the attackers, and if they are found to be affiliated with the BNP or its affiliated bodies, organizational action will be taken against them.

On Tuesday, Bishwambharpur UNO Mofizur Rahman denied all allegations against him, stating, “I am not involved in any bribery, corruption, or irregularities. These protests, human chains, and complaints to the ACC have been made to harass me unnecessarily.”