Class-III staff used SUV for a decade

He was a class-III employee of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB), but he used a SUV of his office for around 10 years which cost the government about Tk 1 crore.

Although he went into retirement in September last year, he was using the vehicle until yesterday when a team of the Anti-Corruption Commission seized it from the PDB's Motijheel office.

The man in question is Alauddin Mia, a stenographer of PDB and also the general secretary of its collective bargaining agent (CBA).

The ACC conducted the drive after receiving a complaint that Alauddin was using the SUV to which he was not entitled.

The graft watchdog interrogated PDB office assistant Abul Hossain Jony who used to drive the vehicle.

Talking to The Daily Star, PDB board member (administration) Zahurul Haque yesterday said CBA President Jahirul Islam Chowdhury was also using another SUV.

“Yesterday, Jahirul's driver returned the vehicle to us and expressed his unwillingness to drive it for the CBA president,” the official added.

In August last year, Jahirul went on leave pending retirement (LPR).

ACC Director General Mohammad Munir Chowdhury said about 450 litres of diesel was allocated for Alauddin's SUV a month which cost the government about Tk 29,250.

“For its fuel, the PDB used to spend about Tk 3.51 lakh a year. Alauddin In last 10 years withdrew Tk 35.10 lakh for fuel,” he to reporters at his office.

For the driver, the PDB spent about Tk 37 lakh in 10 years. Besides, there were expenses for repair and other related work, the ACC DG said.

“A class-III employee [Alauddin] is not entitled to get a vehicle for his personal use. About Tk 1 crore was wasted due to this. Such indiscipline paves the way for a big corruption.”

He said the ACC would take actions in this regard after probing the incident.

The graft watchdog later handed over the vehicle to PDB Deputy Director (transport) Kamrul Ahmed.

Talking to the Daily Star, Alauddin claimed he didn't misuse his power. “As a CBA general secretary, I'm entitled to have a SUV. The PDB board of directors gave it to me. If it is illegal, the board is liable for this.”

Replying to a question, he said he was holding the CBA general secretary's post as per a court directive. “That's why I was using the vehicle.”

Driver Jony told reporters that Alauddin used the SUV for his personal activities also.

PDB board member Zahurul said the practice of giving a vehicle to the CBA to run its organisational activities had begun in 1991.

In 2009, the CBA got divided into two factions which were led by its President Jahirul and General Secretary Alauddin respectively.

Since then, they had been using the two vehicles, said Zahurul.

“We didn't interfere in the issue fearing workers' movement. After the ACC's initiative, we have got an opportunity to stop this practice,” he added.