Fake outsourcing recruitment alleged in farm mechanisation project: probe ordered into accountant Masum Reza

The farm mechanisation project, already beset by allegations of corruption and irregularities, now faces allegations of money being taken through fake recruitment in the name of outsourcing. Victims have lodged complaints with the project director and the director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Following the allegations, the DAE authorities sent a letter on October 17 pressing for an investigation. The letter said allegations had been raised against the project's accountant, Md Masum Reza, of taking bribes from several people for recruitment on an outsourcing and daily-wage basis in various projects. An investigation officer has been appointed to inquire and submit a report.

DAE Deputy Director Md Muradul Hasan said the investigation report has been asked to be submitted within 10 working days. He said, 'We want transparency in this project's activities.'

Earlier, a victim named Soumik Arafat submitted a written complaint to the DAE director general. The complaint said a 'powerful syndicate' had formed led by accountant Md Masum Reza and Shafiqul Islam, the project director's driver. A deal of Tk 220,000 in total was made to appoint Soumik Arafat as an office assistant through outsourcing. Accordingly, on May 13 he sent Tk 100,000 to the Sonali Bank account of driver Shafiq's wife, Aklima Begum.

On the allegation, accountant Md Masum Reza said, 'They came to me about recruitment at the PD's word. I have returned the money I took from people.' He also remarked that no recruitment happens at Khamarbari without money.

Jahirul Islam of Bauphal in Patuakhali has also claimed to have got work as an office assistant by paying driver Shafiq. He alleges Shafiq took Tk 200,000 from him for the job. He has been working at the project office since December 2025 without an appointment letter, but has received neither salary and allowances nor an appointment letter so far. Despite complaining to the project director several times, he has not got back the Tk 200,000 paid for the job.

The previous government took up the 'Agricultural Mechanisation through Integrated Management' project to raise production by increasing the use of modern machinery in farming. The project's budget was Tk 3,000 crore. Its term was five years, from July 2020 to June 2025.

In the final year, the project made no progress because of irregularities, corruption and other reasons. The project's remaining Tk 400 crore was sent back to the ministry. Earlier, eight officials, including a former project director, were dismissed for involvement in corruption and irregularities.

Just four months before the term ended, Manjur-ul-Alam was appointed as the new project director. A recommendation had been made to extend the project by another year to spend the remaining money, but the term was not extended afterwards and the activities were not wound up either.

Amid this stagnation, on July 23, 2025 the project director, breaking the rules, published an advertisement in the Daily Jugantor and The Daily Star for outsourcing recruitment. A company named Ayat Security Service Limited got the recruitment work against a deposit of Tk 500,000. Although activities were suspended, the company campaigned several times this year to recruit 77 staff for the project, promising attractive salaries and three festival allowances a year. When contacted on the number given on the company's Facebook page, a man identifying himself as Md Ujjal said, 'The company owner, Mr Lenin, knows about these things.'

A project-related official said there has been no administrative order from the ministry on this project after its set term ended in June 2025. For that reason, assigning any company to recruit people or transacting money is completely unethical. Project Director Manjur-ul-Alam said on the matter, 'The recruitment process takes a long time, so we called tenders in newspapers for outsourcing recruitment before the project's term was extended.'

It is learnt that 77 officers and employees of the project have not been paid for 16 months; salaries have been stopped since July 2025. On October 19, at the project office at the DAE at Khamarbari in the capital, staff were seen sitting idle. A special audit is under way because of the corruption allegations. The project director's room was locked. Several project-related people said Manjur-ul-Alam's service ended on August 23; even after his service ended, he had kept the room occupied under lock, and later that lock was broken under the leadership of a DPD and a new lock was put on the room.

On the allegation of occupying the room, Manjur-ul-Alam said, 'I have not formally taken leave. My files are still in that room.'

On the overall matter, DAE Director General Abdur Rahim said, 'There is a lot of notoriety around the agricultural mechanisation project. The decision on extending the project's term has not been finalised yet. If we find specific proof of irregularities in the project's activities, we will take action. The trial of the officials who were involved in corruption earlier is ongoing. Our position on transparency is strict.'