A project director of the Department of Fisheries has used his car as a leased vehicle for his project and earned money from the lease.

SM Ashikur Rahman, the project director of the protection and development of local species of fish and snails in Gopalganj, had refused to use a government-provided vehicle claiming it to be old and risky, according to a complaint.

He later bought a Nissan X-Trail bearing the registration number Dhaka Metro Gha-22-1416 and leased it to a rent-a-car service provider. Ashikur then allegedly helped the firm win a bid so that his vehicle could be used in the project, which is a violation of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules-1979.

The Section 17.1 of the rules stipulate that no government servant shall, except with the previous sanction of government, engage in any trade or undertake any employment or work, other than his official duties.

For this violation, a complaint was filed against the PD with the fisheries department, prompting the authorities to conduct an investigation. A one-member committee with Md Shahed Ali, deputy director (Finance & Planning) of the department, on September 3 was asked to submit its probe report in three working days.

According to the complaint document obtained by The Daily Star, the rent-a-car firm received Tk 120,000 per month since March this year. It continued receiving the money until the matter came to light.

Speaking to this newspaper, Ashikur said he received Tk 50,000 per month from the car rental company.

"Since the fisheries department could not manage a suitable car for rent within the allocated budget, I gave the vehicle to the rent-a-car firm in good faith."

Asked about returning the car provided by the department, he said he thought using that "old" car would be risky.

"That's why I communicated this to the higher authorities and the vehicle was later sent to another department," the PD said.

Regarding the violation of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules-1979, Ashikur claimed that he was not aware of it.

Probe body chief Shahed Ali yesterday said he already submitted the report. He, however, refused to disclose the findings.

KH Mahbubul Haque, director general of the Department of Fisheries, said they received the probe report and sent it to the fisheries and livestock ministry for next course of action.