ZCZC
BSS-42
MINISTER-ROOPPUR-CORRUPTION
34 found involved in Rooppur power plant scam: Rezaul
DHAKA, July 24, 2019 (BSS)- Housing and Public Works Minister SM Rezaul Karim today said the government has identified 34 officials who were involved in alleged irregularities in purchasing furniture and other household items for officials and other employees of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
“After scrutinising a probe report, 34 officials were found involved directly or indirectly in the irregularities in some biding works of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project,” he told a press briefing at the Secretariat here.
Rezaul said four officials of the Science and Technology Ministry were involved in the irregularities and a letter was sent to the ministry asking it to take actions against them.
He said four officials of different departments under the Housing and Public Works Ministry were involved in the irregularities, but they went on retirement or leave preparatory to retirement (LPR). “We have already asked the authorities concerned to take legal actions against them,” he added.
The housing and public works minister said departmental cases were filed against 16 officials under his ministry, while they were also suspended for their alleged involvement in corruption.
He said directives have also been given to file departmental cases against the remaining 10 officials working under the ministry. “Once the departmental cases are filed, legal actions will be taken against them,” he added.
Rezaul said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, shows zero tolerance to corruption and as part of the government, his ministry is working to implementing the policy.
He said three construction firms plundered additional Taka 36.4 crore from the project through corruption and steps have been taken to recover the money.
According to reports in the media as well as on social media, the purchase prices of various items to furnish the project’s 966 apartments for the Russian engineers and others were abnormally higher than the market prices.
The reports claimed that each pillow was bought for Taka 5,957, and the cost of carrying it to an apartment was Taka 760.
An electric stove cost Taka 7,747 and the carrying cost from the ground floor to the top one cost Taka 6,650, the reports said adding the price of an electric iron was Taka 4,154 and the carrying cost Taka 2,945.
BSS/PR/MRI/KU/1942 HRS