PDB goods auctioned at ‘throwaway’ prices

The investigation was ordered after news on the irregularities were published in regional and local dailies recently.

The six-member probe team headed by PDB's Western Zone Chief Engineer Md Abdullah includes Assistant Chief Engineer Pradip Kumar Sarkar, Accounts Director Masud Hassan, Khulna PDB's Deputy Director Shankar Lal Nandi, Mustafizur Rahman and Md Iqbal.

The team started its work on Thursday and are recording statements of officials and employees in Satkhira PDB.

Meanwhile, sources at Satkhira PDB office claimed that some files were tempered to cover up the irregularities, which deprived the government of several lakh Taka in revenue earning. Satkhira PDB had invited tender, published in a Jessore-based newspaper, to auction 'unused iron, empty drums of transformer oil, GI pipe, wire and other items and accessories.

This was done in an alleged understanding with some farms and contractors in Jessore, the sources claimed. Local PDB contractors did not participate in the auction.

Eighteen categories of items were auctioned at Tk 2,03,374 on May 18.

Following the auction, all the goods were taken away on May 21.

The goods were sold at throwaway prices, they claimed.

To mention a few, a drum was sold for Tk 105 against its market price of Tk 400, GI pipe at Tk 11 per foot, and 33 KV underground pvc pipe at Tk 35 per metre, they said.

Some usable items were sold showing those 'abandoned, unfit

and destroyed'.

At least 50 drums containing transformer oil were sold showing them 'empty'.

When contacted, Chief engineer Md Abdullah said the probe is on and they have detected some irregularities.

"Stern action will be taken against those found involved in the scam", said the probe committee chief.

He said the probe report will be submitted to authorities soon and auction will be taken as per the report.