Dept of Youth Dev: Investigation finds promotions were illegal

When the Department of Youth Development (DYD) last year prepared a list of 1,175 officers to be promoted to a higher position, Rafiqul Islam Sheikh's position was 497.

Rafiqul, an assistant upazila youth development officer (AUYDO) in Sirajganj, however, made it to the list of 112 successful AUYDOs elevated in November last year. The DYD gave all the promotees the current charge of upazila youth development officer (UYDO).

In their argument, DYD director general Azharul Islam Khan and former director (admin) Mokhlesur Rahman, who played a key role in picking and choosing the officers, had earlier claimed that previous service record and work efficiency were considered for the elevation.

A departmental audit made the claim null and void as it unearthed Rafiqul's corruption instead. The audit, conducted by the DYD a few months after the elevation, found he embezzled Tk 1.62 lakh that he collected from borrowers while serving at Raiganj in Sirajganj.

The youth ministry probe committee found that some officers got the elevation though they faced departmental cases more than once and were even punished.

The audit also found three other promotees to have misappropriated money. They are: Md Golam Faruq, Dipak Kumar Mandol and Ainul Islam Bhuiyan.

Faruq misappropriated Tk 2.38 lakh during his service in Sharsha in Jashore. He was elevated although his position on the list was 168th.

Dipak and Ainul embezzled Tk 3.80 lakh and Tk 1.47 lakh respectively while working in Jhenidah's Harinakunda and Mymensingh Sadar upazila.

The DYD framed charges against the four and suggested taking departmental actions.

The youth ministry probe committee found that some officers got the elevation though they faced departmental cases more than once and were even punished.

The committee also mentioned it appears that there might be financial transactions and corruption in giving the current charge.

In November last year, the department elevated the 112 officers from the list, called the "gradation list", of 1,175 AUYDO. However, 70 promotees were at the bottom of the list and superseded many having good service records throughout their careers.

The Daily Star published a report on it on December 10 last year.

Soon, the youth and sports ministry formed a probe committee after some aggrieved officers complained to the secretary of the public administration ministry alleging massive bribery against the former deputy director (admin) Mokhlesur.

The probe committee found that the officers were given current charges, ignoring the ministry's directive and in violation of the rules and regulations. It said a huge amount of money might change hands for the elevation.

An Administrative Tribunal in Dhaka in a judgement on July 25 said the order of current charge dated November 25, 2021, is grossly illegal as it had been issued in violation and bypassing the gradation list prepared on June 9 last year by the authorities.

WHAT THE PROBE FOUND

It appears that money may change hands and the officers were elevated ignoring the ministry's directive and in violation of the rules and regulations, said the probe committee.

Headed by Kazi Moshtaque Zahir, joint secretary of the ministry, the committee submitted its report to the secretary on May 12.

This newspaper got to have a detailed look at the report.

It said DYD denied new posts to 70 AUYDOs though their position was among the top 112 officers in a list the department itself prepared based on officers' service tenure and records.

"As per information and evidence submitted to the committee by 10 aggrieved officers it appears that there might be financial transaction and corruption in giving the current charge," the report mentioned.

It said there appeared to have several suspected transactions made through the bank account of Farzana Razia, wife of Mosharraf Hossain Biswas who is among the officers elevated.

The report mentioned that a screenshot of a message taken from the mobile phone of another elevated officer Rahmat Ullah shows that he asked one of his colleagues to send money to Farzana Razia's account.

The probe committee recommended a further investigation by the central bank's Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit against Mokhlesur Rahman, Mosharraf Hossain, Rahmat Ullah and Jashim Uddin and their family members.

Contacted, Mosharraf claimed innocence and said there was no suspicious transaction in his wife's bank account.

The probe committee also found that it was Mokhlesur who prepared the list of officers given the "current charge".

Mokhlesur, however, claimed to the probe body that he just carried forward the directives of the director (administration) and DG of the department.

The probe body recommended forming a separate investigation committee to find out the roles of higher authorities in this regard.

Contacted, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel said on July 2 that he was yet to receive the inquiry committee report. "We will take action as per the committee's recommendation," he said.