Allegations have surfaced over the misuse of Tk 24.32 lakh allocated in 2022–24 financial years for uniforms for Grade 16 to 20 employees at Rajshahi Medical College.
The employees claimed that they had not received the uniform but official records showed that the uniforms had been distributed.
According to government circulars, Grade 16 to 20 employees are entitled to official uniforms every two years.
The male employees’ uniforms include safari suits, shoes, sweaters, socks, and female employees’ uniforms include sarees and shawls.
Official documents show that uniforms worth Tk 24,32,779 were procured in FY23 and FY24 through tenders from three firms – Decent Tailors, M/S Nayan Traders, and Noor Trading Company.
The records further state that the goods were received, bills cleared and uniforms delivered to 125 employees in FY23 and 119 in FY24.
But no staff wore the prescribed uniform on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The employees alleged that they, instead of uniforms, were given partial cash payments in FY23 and nothing in FY24.
But, they alleged, they had to sign on receipts in FY24.
Three employees separately alleged that the authorities gave them about Tk 2,500 instead of the allocated money of Tk 10,000 in 2023.
But in 2024, the authorities took our signatures but gave nothing, they said.
The distribution records, shown by the storekeeper, contained anomalies.
Drivers and some staff were recorded as receiving three safari suits each, in violation of the policy.
Asked about the irregularities, storekeeper Faisal Haider said that his job was to receive and distribute as per the documents.
‘I have documents signed by appropriate persons. Beyond that, I can say nothing,’ he said.
Contractor Humayun Farid, owner of Noor Trading Company, could not specify what had been delivered.
The owner of Decent Tailors, Emdadul Islam, said that others might have used the name of his establishment.
Rajshahi Medical College secretary Towhidul Islam, pointing to staff’s signatures, denied the allegation and claimed that all items had been distributed appropriately.
He said that they did not have any photographic evidence of the distribution.
The college principal, Professor Faisal Alam, said that he had heard of irregularities in distributing uniforms among Grade 16 to 20 employees.
‘According to the policy, uniforms are to be distributed every two years, not in consecutive years. The process clearly needs scrutiny,’ he said.
Former principal Professor Naushad Ali, who oversaw the period in question, could not be reached for comments as he went into hiding following the July uprising in 2024.
