Some officials of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation, an apex institution for SME development in the country, are allegedly involved in corrupt practices, by appointing family members and axing jobs of those who protested against irregularities. According to sources, KM Habib Ullah, Chairperson of the SME Foundation, appointed his daughter Nazia Mintz-Habib as ‘international advisor’ on July 21, 2014, in violation of the rules. He also relieved two permanent high officials from service without assigning any charges, again flouting the service rules of the organization. The Chairperson is allegedly trying to set up a training institute at Tk 100 crore in his village at Kapasia, despite facing opposition from officials.
According to sources at the SME Foundation, he submitted the project to the Finance Ministry for establishing a training institute on his ancestral land, 14km away from the Kapasia-Sripur road, in a remote village. The project would not appeal to entrepreneurs because of the distance, the source added.
KM Habib Ullah allegedly submitted false information to the Industries Ministry for the post of Chairperson of the SME, showing himself as retiring as Secretary, although he retired as Deputy Secretary. The SME Chairperson also abolished ‘Service Rule 2013’ and issued another ‘Service Rule 2015’ on June 23 last year without approval of the Board of Directors. He also promoted his PS Masum Billah to the post of Manager unlawfully, without any board approval. The Board of Directors of the SME Foundation has formed a five-member probe committee headed by Professor Momtaz Uddin Ahmed to enquire into the irregularities, including relieving of two high officials. Other members of the committee are SK Sur Chowdhury, Abdul Matin, Selima Ahmad and Mirza Nurul Gani Shovan.
According to the probe report, the suspension of two officials of the SME Foundation, General Manager Mujibur Rahman and Deputy General Manager SM Nurul Alam, was against service rules and the reasons were not acceptable. The probe committee recommended their immediate reinstatement. The Chairperson of the SME Foundation had relieved the two officials from service on August 20 last year.
“All irregularities, including appointment of an international advisor, setting up of a training institute and suspension of officials will be discussed in the next board meeting,” Susen Chandra Das, a member of the Board of Directors, who is also an Additional Secretary of the Industries Ministry told The Independent. The two officials will definitely get fair justice, he said in reply to a query.
“The probe committee has submitted its report before the Board members and they are discussing the issue,” Safiqul Islam, Managing Director of SME Foundation told this correspondent. He however, denied any involvement with the suspension of the officials. He also refused to comment on the appointment of an international advisor and setting up of the training institute.
Despite repeated attempts, KM Habib Ullah denied making any comment on the allegations.