Former finance minister M Saifur Rahman was allegedly reluctant to release Tk 58 crore funds dredging of Mongla port cnahhel allocated by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) at its last meeting during the tenure of the immediate past BNP-Jamaat government.

He asked the relevant authorities of finance ministry to 'hold up' the allocation until further orders.

This was sated in a press release issued by secretary general of Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC) Shaikh Ashrafuzzaman yesterday.

He urged the caretaker government to release the fund to dredge Mongla port channel.

He further demanded a thorough probe into the matter relating to alleged reluctance of the then

finance minister to release the fund, ignoring a decision of the ECNEC, chaired by former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

The GKDACC leader said Mongla port has a vital role to play for economic development of the country. The performance of Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) also depends on development and modernisation of the Mongla port, which is gradually losing navigability due to deposit of on the Passur river.

The EPZ is now virtually on verge of closure as none wants to invest in industries there due to deplorable condition of Mongla port, the statement said.

The GKDACC leader also accused the former finance minister of depriving people of greater Khulna of their right to get deserving funds for economic development.