Gopalganj govt poultry rearing center drowns in corruption

The government poultry rearing center in Gopalanj is drowning in irregularities and corruption of the officer. Gopalganj poultry rearing center has been accused of embezzling money by selling eggs, chickens and hens produced at high prices in the government farm against Mirza Nazmul Islam, Development Officer of government poultry rearing center in Gopalganj.

In addition, the government subsidizes about 70 - 80 lakh taka per year for farms to meet the demand for meat. From there, there is talk of creating self-employment opportunities for unemployed youth, impoverished farmers and destitute women by providing chickens at low prices, but the reality is different, this COVID- 19 virus period was no exception.

Although it is supposed to produce chicken on the farm, in reality this farn is being run on the opposite imaginary rule. Going to the spot, the truth of the irregularity and corruption were also found.

An employee of the office, who did not want to be named, said that in September 2019, he sold 663 chickens, each of which was sold for Tk 120 but deposited in the government treasury for Tk 60. In October, he sold 360 chickens at a price of Tk 120 and deposited Tk 60. In November, he sold 700 roosters at a price of Tk 180 per piece.

But he has deposited  Tk 60 per piece in the government treasury. He also embezzled Tk 50,000 for office furniture, Tk 40,000 for laptop and Tk 3 lakh for office repairs. Although the chickens are supposed to be fed 120 grams per day, they are being fed 60-70 grams.

As a result, chickens are constantly dying from food. This Officer and employees of that office are taking the money by selling the remaining food outside. Embezzlement of money by using fake bill vouchers for regular oil consumption without running the generator machine. Nazmul Islam is selling vaccines and medicines without giving the chickens.

The initiative was taken by the government to provide self-employment to the unemployed youth, poor farmers and destitute women of the district by providing cheap chickens and eggs. In order to achieve that goal, the people working in that office are far from implementing government initiatives and are busy packing their own sugarcane.

Even in the period of Corona disaster and  Ramadan, 1,500 chickens were also sold on the farm at night, showing them as dead chickens. He has embezzled lakhs of taka of the government.

Refusing to give any information, Mirza Nazmul Islam, development officer of Gopalganj Poultry Rearing Center, said, "I will not give any statement in this regard." If you can, bring the higher authorities from Dhaka. Dr. Aziz Al Mamun, Gopalganj District Livestock Officer, said, "I have received several complaints against the Poultry Development Officer before. The farm is not under my control. Even then I warned him verbally.

Director (Production) of the Livestock Department Md. Nazrul Islam said via mobile phone, "If there is any irregularity or complaint in the poultry rearing center, Gopalganj Gopalganj District Livestock Officer to inform us. We will investigate if any irregularity is reported against the development officer Nazmul Islam. If found to be true, action will be taken as per rules."

--- Mijanur Rahman Manik, Gopalganj