The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives couldn't appoint a regular managing director (MD) in its subordinate micro-credit organization, 'Palli Daridro Bimochan Foundation (PDBF), Foundation for Eliminating Rural Poverty) in the last 27 months after removal of its previous contractual MD Mahbubur Rahman.
After Mahbub's removal, the state-owned micro-credit body PDBF is functioning under the supervision of an acting MD, Madan Mohan Saha. Madan Mohan is now the officer of a director rank in the authority, according to the Ministry and PDBF sources.
The PDBF sources claimed that the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division, the supervising authority of the micro-credit body, is now planning to give the charge of the MD to an additional director rank officer Aminul Islam, who was demoted earlier for his alleged involvement in irregularities and corruptions, bypassing all rules and regulations.
PDBF sources said that the former MD, Mahbubur Rahman, was sacked from the position on December 28 in 2016 due to proven irregularities in his appointment in the office and huge allegations of corruption during his tenure.
After his removal, he lodged a case against the authority for not appointing a regular MD. But, he lost the legal battle recently. Later, he lodged a review petition. It's now under trial.
According to the sources, some of the RDCD officers, including an additional secretary of the Ministry, are helping Mahbub in getting his position back. But, failing to reinstate him in his position, they are trying to give Aminul, an influential official of the PDBF due to his relationship with an influential secretary of the government, the charge of MD.
When contacted, RDCD Additional Secretary (Institution) Afzal Hossain told this correspondent that they don't have any plans to give Aminul the charge of the MD. "Rather, we are planning to appoint a director level officer on contract basis following the rules of the authority," he added.
"There are some problems and inefficiencies of the MD (current charge) Madan Mohan. But, due to legal problems, we cannot appoint a regular MD. So, we are planning to appoint a director level officer on contractual service. He'll be given the charge of MD," he added.
The Ministry and PDBF sources, however, claimed that Aminul Islam, one of the close aides of previous MD Mahbub, is likely to get the position. The RDCD officials concerned are still trying to bring Aminul back to the position by any means.
The officials also claimed that enormous corruption in PDBF resulting severe threat to implement various development projects of the government in rural areas across the country.
Citing all irregularities and problems, some officials of the PDBF have submitted several complaints to the Local Government and RD Ministry, Public Administration Ministry and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) recently.
In the complaints, they urged the authorities to conduct necessary investigations and expose multifarious irregularities including corruption, bribery and misuse of power of the officials concerned including RDCD Additional Secretary Md Afzal Hossain.
