Photo : Collected
There has been a flurry of criticism surrounding the application of 37 officials working in Pabna Bera Water Development Board (WDB) for simultaneous transfer. Leaving the office empty to withdraw the mysterious application, 9 officials including the executive engineer have been staying in Dhaka for two days. The activities of the Bera Water Development Board have come to a stagnant.
According to the Bera WDB sources, the conflict started between the current officials regarding the interpretation, completion and transaction of various works of the Operation and Maintenance (OM) Department. Due to that conflict, 37 officers and employees applied to the Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for voluntary transfer on May 9.
In the application, they mentioned that 'A vested group is sending false, and harassing letters anonymously through various government and private channels to embarrass and harass the officials mentally. They are also trying to socially degrade the current officers and employees. In this, the officers and employees are subjected to various types of embarrassing accountability and harassment.’ They applied for transfer voluntarily claiming that there is no working environment in such a situation. Immediately after the application, there was a flurry of criticism and discussion.
Several officers and employees, anonymously said that the current officers, conflicts are seen among the current officials including the executive engineer for not getting unethical benefits from the previously transferred officials and contractors. Not being able to get the benefits in that conflict, the officials including the executive engineer applied for transfer conjunctionally. All levels of employees are forced to sign the transfer application. Even many of the employees do not know what is written in the transfer application. After discussion and criticism, the officials along with the executive engineer went to BWDB in Dhaka on Tuesday to withdraw the transfer application. They did not return until Wednesday afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, the rooms of most of the officials were found locked during the on-site inspection of the Bera WDB. However, three Deputy Assistant Engineers were in office. Most of the employees were also not in the office. Work has come to a standstill as top officials were absent.
After investigation, it is known that all the officials except the executive engineer are using political influence as they are local residents. However, what can be such a big issue that all the officials had to apply for transfer voluntary? Various questions have arisen about the work environment here.
In this regard, several employees including senior assistant Rakibul Islam, Taufiqur Rahman and office assistant Mojibur Rahman said, 'We signed the application as we were asked to sign it. But I cannot say what is written in the application.'
In this regard, three sub-assistant engineers, Anisur Rahman, Abdul Khalek, and Habibur Rahman said, 'Bosse (Executive Engineer) are staying in Dhaka due to their official work. I can't say anything about the application. It is forbidden to talk about it without the instructions of them.'
Amitabh Chowdhury, executive engineer of Bwra WDB (OM Division) could not be reached at his office. His cellphone was switched off from morning to afternoon when contacted. And when contacted Osman Farooq, sub-divisional engineer of the same office, he did not receive the phone.
Supervising Engineer of Pabna WDB Sudhanshu Kumar Sarkar was called various times but he did not receive. There was no response from him even after sending a text message.
In this regard, Mukhlesur Rahman, Chief Engineer of Rajshahi WDB said, 'The supervising engineer and executive engineer of Pabna told me to go to a meeting in Dhaka. But they did not tell me about 9 of them going to Dhaka together. I have also heard about the application. But I have not received any official document yet. So I can't say anything about it.'
BWDB DG Amirul Haque Bhuiyan said, 'I was outside the country. I have come this morning. I do not know much about it. There is no opportunity for everyone to come to Dhaka together. One should take permission and leave from his superior authority. And I don't know whether there is a chance for everyone to be transferred at the same time. I will go through the applications at first. Why did they give it, for what reason, I will see all of them first, then I can talk about it.'
Caption: All the rooms are locked in the department of OM in Bera WDB office on Wednesday.
Messenger/Fameema
