The postal department high-ups including the director general (DG) have embezzled Tk 7 crore, according toaprobcbyahigli-lcvel investigation committee.

The committee has already submitted its enquiry report to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The report says several postal officials and employees in their statements to tile committee mentioned the incumbent and former DGs, SM Abdus Salam and Mujibttr Rahman, are involved in almost every Cmbez-zlementincidentinDhakaregion.

It further says Salam used to show excessive office expenses while serving in Northern Circle, Rajshahi and thePostalAcademyasaprincipal.

During his stay at those offices, he in connivance with other officials embezzled Tk 7 crore showing the sum as official expenditure, the rejxirt adds.

if says Salam had worked as the postmaster general (PMG) at General Post Office (GPO) in Dhaka, and office expenditure doubled during his tenure

Moreover, GPO employees and workers used to give him Tk 30,000 to Tk 40,000 per month without a bill or voucher.

Besides, a section of officials used to misappropriate money by using fake bill vouchers and grant papers, sharing the sum widr the high-ups.

The probe report names Salam and 88 officials and employees, who were involved in embezzlement through fake grant papers.

It reveals that Mansurus Samad Chowdhury, a postal operator of the north unit of die departmen t, embezzled about Tk6.77croreinl0 years by using fake bill vouchers and grant papers.

Though he was arrested and sent

to jail, he had obtained bail from a court and went intohiding.

Three officials including the personal assistant of the DG have been arrested on char ge of misappropriat-ingaboutTkl8.9lakh.Tliey are Senior Accountant Krishna Kumar Dasgupta, l'A Amir Hossain and CashierAbulKal am.

Dhaka GPO Postal Operator Masud Chowdhury was arrested for embezzling about Tk 3.12 crore and jailed for 10-ycar rigorous imprisonment. He was also finedTk 14 laid) and would serve one more year in prison if he failed to pay the fine.

It was' leamt that there were massive irregularities in appointing

employees when Salam, an official of the 1973batch,wastheRajshahiPMG.

He was made an OSD (officer on special duty) in 2000 as allegations of corruptionagainst himwereprowd.

However, he has managed to sustain the current post for his good tics with an influential quarter in tire ' government.