26 officials default on Tk 5.85 lakh housing rent in Chaugachha Upazila Complex
Sk Sohrab Hossain, Jashore
A total of 26 government officials and employees posted in Chaugachha Upazila are residing in official quarters without paying housing rent for months, accumulating unpaid arrears worth Tk 5.85 lakh up to June 2026 and depriving the government of substantial revenue.
Established in 1982, the Chaugachha Upazila residential complex comprises two bungalows, 24 residential flats spread across six buildings, and a staff dormitory. While gazetted officers occupy bungalows, non-gazetted employees utilize 21 flat units, and 14 to 16 staff members share dormitory accommodations.
Audit figures reveal that Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Samsun Nahar holds the highest individual default, accumulating Tk 1.08 lakh in unpaid rent over three years at a monthly rate of Tk 3,000. Other prominent defaulters include Upazila Primary Education Officer Mostafizur Rahman with Tk 51,000 pending over 17 months, Palli Sanchay Bank Manager Obaidul Islam owing Tk 42,000 for 14 months, UNO driver Sohel Rana with Tk 36,000 due for 12 months, UNO Office Assistant Shahjalal owing Tk 27,000 over nine months, and Upazila Mosque Imam Shahjahan Ali with Tk 36,000 pending over 12 months.
Additional outstanding dues include Tk 18,000 owed by Primary Education Office Accounts Assistant Shariful Islam, Tk 9,000 by PIO Office Assistant Abdur Jabbar, and approximately Tk 72,000 accumulated by 14 staff members residing in the dormitory at a rate of Tk 500 monthly. Furthermore, institutional quarter allocations for the Poverty Alleviation Office, Information Office, Settlement Office, and Model Resource Center have accumulated defaults ranging between Tk 9,000 and Tk 75,000. The Assistant Commissioner (Land) currently resides in the designated Chairman's bungalow without formal allotment or rent payment.
When contacted, PIO Samsun Nahar denied the allegation, claiming all housing fees were fully cleared. Upazila Accounts Officer Yunus Ali stated that his office received no formal notice regarding rent deductions and redirected inquiries to the administration. Upazila Engineer Alamgir Hossain declined to comment, while multiple phone attempts to reach Chaugachha UNO Farjana Islam went unanswered.
