The executive committee of the BCS General Education Association (BCSGEA) has allegedly embezzled around Tk 4.5 crore from the association fund during its present and previous terms.
A member of the association in a letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Ministry of Education on March 31 brought several allegations of corruption against the committee.
Incumbent president of the BCS General Education Association Professor Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury, Secretary General Shawkat Hossain Molla and Treasurer SM Kamal Ahmed are allegedly involved in misappropriating the association’s fund.
Currently, Professor Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury is also serving as the director general (routine duty) of Directorate of Higher and Secondary Education (DHSE).
The daily Bangladesh Post correspondent obtained a copy of the letter related to the allegation of the association’s fund embezzlement.
An internal audit committee scrutinised the financial operations of the association from June 2022 to December 2023. Another internal audit committee looked into the association’s financial operations from June 2016 to April 2022.
According to the complaint letter, the current president and general secretary of the BCSGEA executive committee together have embezzled over Tk 1.09 crore in their last term. The previous committee’s corruption has also been mentioned in the letter.
The letter stated that there was no proof or proper procedure for the expenditure of about Tk 4 crore from 2015 to 2022. And during 2022–23 period, Tk 50 lakh was withdrawn from the association’s account with fake vouchers.
As of December 2023, the association had Tk 1,11,20,718 in its fund. The treasurer claims the figure is Tk 75,12,779 while the secretary general claims it is Tk 84,90,623. There is Tk 9,77,844 gap between the two figures.
The contradicting financial information disclosed by the association’s leaders has sparked controversies among the general members. It is also alleged that there is a lack of specification in the association’s expenditure.
Major objections
There are no vouchers or proper requisitions about the Tk 46,48,569 spent in dealing with a legal matter on behalf of an education cadre officer Momtaz Uddin, the letter alleged.
This huge amount was signed by the legal secretary of the association on a white A4 document, which the treasurer published on his Facebook news feed some days ago.
It is also alleged that this huge amount of money spent has no valid voucher or transparent documents. There is no receipt on whom the money was given to and who received the money.
Besides, there is no valid voucher for the remaining expenses. A BCS education cadre official alleged that the financial accounts and bookkeeping at the association were not kept as per rules and regulations.
According to the present committee, currently there is only Tk 36,07,939 at the association’s bank account. But many claim that the amount in the bank will be much higher.
Association leaders’ discrepancies
According to the findings of the audit during June 2022-December 2023, many vouchers lack essential details like the association’s name and amount in words, which made it hard to determine if they’re legitimate expenses; Salary and bonus bills lack required signatures and stamps, raising concerns about their validity; Numerous vouchers were found damaged and altered, and they also lacked dates.
Moreover, a significant amount of money spent on legal case was not properly requisitioned, raising questions about financial oversight; Lack of specific details in subscription receipts which makes it difficult to verify deposits and contributions; No financial records exist for the welfare fund; Duplicate entries were found for a meal bill, indicating possible accounting errors or fraud; the association’s fund was misused to purchase a refrigerator in the name of the general secretary.
Besides, payments have been made without valid vouchers to some people including Nasirul Azam Bappi, Kazi Hasan and Nazmun; October 2023 expenditure vouchers were not recorded in the cash register in time; Expenditure for an online meeting was not properly recorded in the cash book; Accounts information missing for April and May 2022; Legal case expenses were made from the association’s general fund, and no information on legal fees’ receipt was found; there is lack of VAT payment and revenue stamp on expenditure bills, which violates government financial policies; Discrepancies in accounts kept separately by the general secretary and the treasurer hindered proper audit procedures.
According to the present committee, the association’s bank account balance was Tk 37,38,634 in 2016, but it is claimed that the actual balance was more than Tk 2 crore. A total of Tk 1,13,27,846 was deposited in the general fund from 2016 to 2021. Tk 86,67,632 was spent during the period and there was no valid voucher. Tk 37,15,853 were deposited in the association’s special fund from 2016 to 2021, and the cost of legal matters was shown as Tk 36,48,258, for which there is no valid voucher.
Besides, there are no records or details regarding Tk 30,36,000 spent. Tk 1,06,00,000 was given to the new committee by the previous committee of 2016. Later, Tk 1,30,00,000 was spent without mentioning the relevant sector or vouchers for the amount spent.
Transparency absent
Transparency in expenditure, particularly from the general fund is absent. Notably, there’s a lack of information concerning the utilisation of the special fund designated for legal purposes. Moreover, contradictions were found in the financial statements provided by the secretary general and the treasurer.
The internal audit report reveals a gap of Tk 30,63,000 in cost details. However, the previous committee’s president Professor Nasreen Begum said Tk 1,09,00,000 had been deposited in the association’ general fund in 2015–2016. She also laid emphasis on strict control over bill voucher payments during her term. Subsequently, an absence of sector-wise cost breakup totaling Tk 1,30,00,000 was noted, accompanied by inadequate documents.
In a recent development, the association underwent a name change, and subscription fees were revised to Tk 200 for 2023, while legal case fees were fixed at Tk 500, as outlined in a letter dated March 21 of the year. The committee, operating under the banner of an unregistered BCS (General Education) Association, exerted pressure on government college principals to remit subscription fees with education cadre officers nationwide compelled to comply. Additionally, substantial sums were allocated for legal expenses.
What they say?
When asked about all the allegations, association Secretary General Shawkat Hossain Mollah told the Bangladesh Post that “There is no chance to embezzle money from the association’s fund.’ He also acknowledged the findings of the internal audit report.
“The audit committee made some recommendations to ensure transparency in maintaining financial accounts. We are working on it,” he added.
Associate Professor SM Kamal Ahmed, the treasurer of the association, said, “I could not carry out my responsibilities properly. I was not even given the association’s bank account cheque book. My phone number was added to the association’s bank account one and half-year later, he added.
Association president Professor Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury could not be reached over phone for his comments about the allegations of the financial irregularities.