Cumilla Zila Parishad Administrator Md. Mostak Mia has alleged that National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and NCP’s southern region chief organiser and current Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4 Hasnat Abdullah have taken a total of Tk25 crore from the parishad’s revenue fund.
Mostak Mia claimed that Asif Mahmud took Tk15 crore for Muradnagar and Hasnat Abdullah took Tk10 crore for Debiddar in an irregular manner.
He made the allegation while speaking at a discussion meeting organised by Comilla South District and Metropolitan BNP on Saturday morning at Comilla Shilpakala Academy, marking the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Ziaur Rahman.
Mostak Mia, who also serves as BNP’s Comilla Divisional Co-Organising Secretary, said the Zila Parishad money was meant for public welfare but was instead given for the interests of specific individuals.
“They talk about the politics of harmony verbally, but during the interim government’s tenure, their character was different,” he said. He demanded a proper investigation and the return of the money to the state treasury.
Hasnat Abdullah strongly protested the allegation. Reacting on a news-based WhatsApp group, he said, “If the administrator had the minimum knowledge about the revenue fund and special allocations, he would not have said this. He has spoken in such a way as if we took the money into our own pockets. Whereas this allocation was given for various development works in Debiddar.”
Hasnat clarified that only Tk 5 crore was allocated for Debiddar through the Annual Development Programme (ADP), with no involvement of the Zila Parishad’s own revenue fund. He said it was a special allocation from the Local Government Division, merely implemented according to rules through the Zila Parishad.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Aminur Rashid Yasin attended the discussion meeting as chief guest, along with Comilla City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu, Sadar Upazila BNP President Rezaul Karim, and other local BNP leaders and civil society representatives.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud for comment were unsuccessful, and his statement could not be obtained immediately.
