The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed three separate cases against eight officials of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) for allegedly misappropriating seeds worth Tk 2.68 crore. Md Al Amin, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission's integrated district office in Jessore, filed the cases at his office on Wednesday afternoon. The accused in the case are former BADC deputy directors Tapan Kumar Saha, Md Amin Ullah and Indrajit Chandra Shil, former assistant directors Md Ali Hossain, Md Akhtaruzzaman Talukder, former warehouse keepers Liaquat Ali, Rezaul Kabir and former acting warehouse keeper Kamrul Hasan.
In the first case, Indrajit Chandra Shil, Amin Ullah, Ali Hossain and Md Rezaul Kabir. According to the complaint, accused Indrajit Chandra Shil was working as deputy director in Jhenaidah during the 2018-19 production year.
According to the action plan, a target was set to produce 80 tons of SL-8 variety hybrid rice seeds on 40 hectares (98.8 acres) of land in a farm. A total of Tk 1.06 crore was allocated for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, labourers, GA-3 cultivation and other expenses for the production of the seeds. But the accused, in connivance with Jhenaidah, embezzled 22.35 tonnes of Boro SL AE-8H variety of paddy seed, 9368 kg Bari 30 varieties of paddy seeds produced in Jhenaidah. Its price was Tk 47 lakh 62 thousand 984.
According to the second case, the same accused embezzled 75.075 tonnes of Boro SL-8H seed rice, 4.069 tonnes, BRI rice 28 varieties of paddy seeds and 2625 kg Bari 30 varieties of paddy seeds produced in Jhenaidah. Its value is Tk 1 crore 52 lakh 73 thousand 441.
In the third case, former deputy director of BADC Tapan Kumar Saha, former assistant director Md Akhtaruzzaman Talukder, former warehouse keeper Liaquat Ali and former acting warehouse keeper Kamrul Hasan embezzled 32.110 metric tons of Boro SL-8H variety of seeds produced in Chuadanga. They have been accused of embezzling seeds worth Tk 67 lakh 95 thousand 350.
The plaintiff in the case is Deputy Director of the Integrated District Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission Jessore. Al Amin said that eight people have been accused on charges of embezzlement of public property after preliminary investigation found the truth. They have been accused of embezzling Tk 2,68,31,775.
JH
