IUGIP Project under LGED yet to start operation

The project authority of the Improving Urban Governance and Infrastructure Program (IUGIP), which was initiated to develop infrastructures of 63 municipalities across the country, could not yet start operation of the five-year project in the last nine months.

Instead of starting works of the Tk 6,300 crore project funded by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), IUGIP Project Director Abdul Barek has been busy recruiting new manpower in the project excluding the existing staffers.

Its the third phase of the project. The first two phases of the project have already implemented.
The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division (LGD) has been implementing the project with the financial support of the ADB.

In this situation, foreign funding agency, the ADB requested the government as well as the LGD and the LGED to change the project director of the IUGIP.

According to the LGED sources, the following the requirement of ADB, the LGD Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim has also sent a letter to the LGED to change the project director.

The funding agency ADB and the supervising authority LGD want to change the project director and appoint another efficient PD, who could start the work as soon as possible, for accelerating its pace and completing works within its stipulated period.

LGED sources said that responding to the letters, LGED has already started working to change the PD. The LGED Chief Engineer will recruit the project directors of the projects initiated by the department.

According to the IUGIP and LGED sources, PD Abdul Barek has already dismissed its 183 staffers (126 community development associates and 57 municipal engineers) recruited during the implementation of the previous phases and recruited 227 new employees in the project through two private farms - Design and Development Corporation and Resource Planning and Management Consultants on outsourcing contract basis.

According to LGED officials, allegation of taking illegal money from the newly recruited manpower has been arisen against the PD. They claimed that the PD has recruited the new manpower excluding the previous employees to be gainer financially. He was appointed the PD of the project by managing the previous LGED chief.

The deprived employees, who were retrenched from the project, has recently submitted a complaint to LGD Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim and LGED chief Ali Akhter Hossain demanding probe in the recruitment process and taking punitive measures against the PD.

According to the allegation, though the PD is authorized to work for the project under the supervision of the LGED chief engineer, he does not care the guideline. Rather, he has been working bypassing the LGED chief.

In a meeting at National Economic Council (NEC) held on March 6 with Prime Ministers Principal Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah in the chair, progress of IUGIP was reviewed. In the meeting, a high level committee was formed to review the progress of the government projects including the IUGIP.

When contacted over phone for commenting on the allegations, Project Director Abdul Barek said, "These allegations are not true."

He, however, invited this correspondent to his office for talking on the matter, saying, "I don like to make any comment over phone."

LGED Chief Engineer Ali Akhter Hossain, however, claimed that Barek was not appointed PD during his period. He was appointed in the tenure of previous chief. But, a lot of allegations have been received from various corners against the PD including recruitment of new manpower excluding the previous staffers.

"The previous chief of the LGED appointed him bypassing the request of the funding agency," he said adding that the authority is working to take necessary actions against the PD after probe.

Under the Tk6,500 crore project, the ADB has been giving supports of Tk6,300 crore while the rests Tk200 crore will be provided by the Bangladesh government. Under the, a total of 900 kilometers of drainage and 1,500 kms of roads would be constructed or renovated in the targeted 63 municipalities.

The municipalities are- Brahmanbaria, Sonagazi, Hajiganj, Matlab, Faridganj, Raipur, Ramgati, Ramganj, Chowmuhani, Chandanaish, Sandwip, Bashkhali, Raujan, Najirhat, Bandarban, and Khagraganj of Chattogram division; Modhupur, Kaliganj, Kaliakoir, Monohordi, Munshiganj, Mirkadim, Araihajar, Goalanda, Bhanga, Boalmari, Kalikini, Noria, Hossainpur, Pakundia, Bhairab, Manikganj, Tungipara, under the Dhaka division; Patgram, Ulipur, Sundarganj, under Rangpur division, Santhia, Rohonpur, Shibaganj, Charghat, Bagha, Naohata, Bhabaniganj, Keshorehat, Najirpur and Sariakandi of Rajshahi division; Madan, Nakla, and Gafargaon of Mymensingh, Bhermara, Kumarkhali, Gangni, Alamdanga, Keshabpur, Manirampur and Maheshpur of Khulna division; Kulaura, Chunarughat, Chhatak and Moulavibazar of Sylhet division.

Besides, maintenance and improvement works for 25 municipalities will also be done under the projects. The municipalities are- Gopalganj, Kishoreganj, Rajbari, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Benapole, Jashore, Magura, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Bera, Ishwardi, Shahzadpur, Nabinagar, Laksam, Laksmipur, Muktagachha, Netrokona, Sherpur, Barguna, Pirojpur, Lamonirhat, Nilphamari and Panchagarh municipalities.