Fenchuganj Power Plant: Homes Allocated in Wives' Names, Alleged Revenue Loss of Nearly Half a Crore Taka

Allegations of irregularities have been raised over government housing allocations at the 180-megawatt Fenchuganj combined cycle power plant in Sylhet. The plant's manager and several other officials are accused of appointing their own wives on a fully temporary 'daily honorarium' basis and taking government homes allocated in their wives' names.

An investigation found that, because house rent was not deducted from salaries year after year, the government lost nearly half a crore taka in revenue. There are also allegations of abuse of power and taking undue benefits in the housing allocations.

Plant manager Rabiul Islam Pramanik has lived for 19 years in a 1,000-square-foot starred residence in the plant's 'Shah Malum (R.)' building. Although he has long lived in that home, house rent has not been deducted from his salary, the investigation found.

Sources said that when Rabiul joined at Fenchuganj, he appointed his wife Shamsun Nahar as a teacher at the Fenchuganj PDB secondary school inside the plant on a temporary 'daily honorarium' basis. Since then, the home has remained allocated on paper in his wife's name.

Manager Rabiul Islam Pramanik said, 'Since both of us are in service, the rent is being deducted from one of our salaries. Besides, there is no residence in this plant matching my position.'

The investigation found that on 23 February 2019 the manager accepted family housing allocation applications from two daily-honorarium teachers of the Fenchuganj PDB primary school. Later, as chairman of the housing allocation committee, the manager himself allotted the 1,000-square-foot home in his wife's name.

A review of the manager's salary sheet showed he draws 24,920 taka a month as house rent along with his salary. On that basis, the investigation said, 22,67,720 taka in government revenue has been evaded from April 2019 to date.

Through Rabiul, his subordinate turbine attendant Rajib bin Islam also appointed his wife Shahinur Akter as a teacher at the Fenchuganj PDB secondary school on a temporary 'daily honorarium' basis. He took a home allocated in his wife's name and lives in the east flat on the fourth floor of the Togar building.

Rajib drew 10,400 taka a month as house rent and, over 91 months, evaded about 9,46,400 taka in revenue, according to the investigation.

Turbine attendant Fakhruddin Mridha lives in the west flat of the same building. Although he is now at the Santahar power plant, he took a home in his wife's name by the same method. His wife Taslima Begum also works as a teacher at the secondary school. Fakhruddin is alleged to have evaded about 10 lakh taka in revenue over eight years by taking house rent in his wife's name.

Among further alleged irregularities, assistant engineer Md Hedayet Ullah lives with his family in the Kushiyara building although no home is allocated in his name. Assistant engineer Tanvir Ahmad Rifat took a single residence on rent but lives in the Kushiyara building with his whole family.

The Power Development Board (PDB) said an inquiry committee has been formed over the matter. HM Ziauddin, director of the PDB's property and transport directorate, said, 'A committee has been formed to investigate the matter. Action will be taken according to the committee's report.'