‘Corruption glare’ on BCSIR chief

The chairman of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Nazrul Islam, is allegedly involved in various corrupt practices, including use of three official vehicles in violation of rules, irregular appointment of employees and improper approval of development works.
According to BCSIR sources, the chairman is now using three vehicles. Three drivers have been appointed to drive the three cars, the sources added. The chairman now uses the car registered as Dhaka-Metro-Gha-11-2681. His son Zaman uses the car registered as Dhaka-Metro-Ga-20-2552, while his wife uses another car from the BCSIR transport pool. On September 20, the car Dhaka-Metro-Ga-20-2552 met with an accident at Uttara when its driver was returning home with his son Zaman from his IEB campus. The BCSIR authorities did not file any general diary (GD) with the local police station, even though the accident involved a government vehicle; rather the chairman ordered one of the employees to repair the car and maintain secrecy, sources said.  “I have been driving the car for the last seven or eight months. It's my duty to drive the chairman’s son to his educational institution at Uttara at 7am and bring him back at 5pm,” the driver of that car, Jahangir, told this correspondent.  “A Balaka minibus hit the car and damaged it seriously. Now it's being repaired at the BCSIR transport pool,” he said.  “We've to follow the chairman's order. So, we didn't file any GD about the accident,” Shamsul Alam, assistant engineer of the BCSIR transport pool, said.
 According to sources, the chairman appointed an assistant librarian, a store clerk and a UDA on February 19 without having arranged for any written tests. Besides, it is alleged that the chairman has spent Tk 9 lakh for BCSIR school development work without inviting any tender.
He also spent around Tk 7.8 lakh for decoration purposes at the BCSIR science fair last January without inviting any tender, although only about Tk 3 lakh is usually used every year in this regard, a senior scientific officer told this correspond on condition of anonymity.
 As per the BCSIR procurement law, the BCSIR authorities must invite tender to procure goods worth Tk. 25,000 for development works.
 It is also alleged that the BCSIR chairman has taken contributions from officers for the ‘BCSIR Biggany Sangha’, which is clearly prohibited under Section 37(2) of the BCSIR gazette. It is further alleged that the chairman appointed many scientific officers in lieu of hefty sums.
When asked, BCSIR chairman Nazrul Islam told The Independent, “As far as I know, no GD has been filed regarding the car accident. As chairman, I can use all the vehicles." The chairman, however, refused to comment over other allegations against him.

Corruption glare on BCSIR chief

The chairman of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Nazrul Islam, is allegedly involved in various corrupt practices, including use of three official vehicles in violation of rules, irregular appointment of employees and improper approval of development works. According to BCSIR sources, the chairman is now using three vehicles. Three drivers have been appointed to drive the three cars, the sources added. The chairman now uses the car registered as Dhaka-Metro-Gha-11-2681. His son Zaman uses the car registered as Dhaka-Metro-Ga-20-2552, while his wife uses another car from the BCSIR transport pool. On September 20, the car Dhaka-Metro-Ga-20-2552 met with an accident at Uttara when its driver was returning home with his son Zaman from his IEB campus. The BCSIR authorities did not file any general diary (GD) with the local police station, even though the accident involved a government vehicle; rather the chairman ordered one of the employees to repair the car and maintain secrecy, sources said. I have been driving the car for the last seven or eight months. Its my duty to drive the chairmans son to his educational institution at Uttara at 7am and bring him back at 5pm, the driver of that car, Jahangir, told this correspondent. A Balaka minibus hit the car and damaged it seriously. Now its being repaired at the BCSIR transport pool, he said. Weve to follow the chairmans order. So, we didnt file any GD about the accident, Shamsul Alam, assistant engineer of the BCSIR transport pool, said. According to sources, the chairman appointed an assistant librarian, a store clerk and a UDA on February 19 without having arranged for any written tests. Besides, it is alleged that the chairman has spent Tk 9 lakh for BCSIR school development work without inviting any tender. He also spent around Tk 7.8 lakh for decoration purposes at the BCSIR science fair last January without inviting any tender, although only about Tk 3 lakh is usually used every year in this regard, a senior scientific officer told this correspond on condition of anonymity. As per the BCSIR procurement law, the BCSIR authorities must invite tender to procure goods worth Tk. 25,000 for development works. It is also alleged that the BCSIR chairman has taken contributions from officers for the BCSIR Biggany Sangha, which is clearly prohibited under Section 37(2) of the BCSIR gazette. It is further alleged that the chairman appointed many scientific officers in lieu of hefty sums. When asked, BCSIR chairman Nazrul Islam told The Independent, As far as I know, no GD has been filed regarding the car accident. As chairman, I can use all the vehicles. The chairman, however, refused to comment over other allegations against him.