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Tk 26cr gobbled up by CBA men in BTTB

Workshop stopped production 8yrs back but money drawn against conveyance, maintenance

Emran Hossain
Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL), former BTTB, stopped production in its workshop eight years' back but the authorities' failure to formally announce closure of the workshop has caused a loss of about Tk 26 crore to the state over these years.
A special investigation team of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) revealed that the money was misappro-
priated in the name of repair and maintenance of the workshop and conveyance expenses ot officials since fiscal 2000-2001.
OftheTk 26 crore, about Tk 9 crore was shown as repair and maintenance expenditure and around I k 17 crore as conveyance expenses.
The workshop under the Telegraph Store and Workshop Directorate of the then BTTB went out of production as telecommunication technology gradu-
ally developed into wireless system.
A B TCLofficial seeking anonymity told rhe Daily Star yesterday," The then BTTB authorities did not dare to officially announce closure of the workshop situated at Tejgaon in the capital due to political reasons' as employees and workers were involved in CBA (collective bargainingagent) politics."
The ACC probe detected that financial corruption and irregularities rose
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workers were involved in CBA (collective bargaining agent) politics."
The ACC probe detected that financial corruption and irregularities rose significantly in BTTB offices over the eight years due to influence and extortion by the CBA. The situation went beyond control making the BTTB an ineffective and corruption-riddled institution, the probe found.
Contacted last night, BTCL Managing Director Ashraful Alim said. "There are no activities in the workshop. It will be closed down through a board meeting soon."
ACC Director General (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal informed the press about the probe findings at a routine briefing at ACC headquarters yesterday.
The investigation also found that the directorate used to purchase equipment for storage spending about Tk 1 crore in phases almost every year, violating rules. It is entitled to purchase materials spending Tk 50,000 only a year
in case of emergency
Besides, a considerable amount of money was spent in salary and wages of staff and workers at the workshop after it went out of production.
The probe body is also looking into irregularities in use of fuel for BTTB vehicles.
BTCL sources said that after production stopped at the workshop, about 300 employees, over 150 workers who worked on daily basis and 10 officials sat idle at the workshop for years. They also said the officials and employees were transferred to other offices a year back while the day labourers were thrown out ofjob.
The ACC investigators however said the officials and employees were not transferred or promoted as yet.