Photo : Collected
To extend the tenure of the Director General (DG), Dr Omar Ali, various attempts to protect him have been unsuccessful.
Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI) has appointed a new Director General as the tenure of the DG has expired.
Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Ferdousi Islam has been appointed to this position.
A notification in this regard has also been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture last Wednesday.
Due to the arrival of the new DG, on the one hand, the previous syndicate is in a panic, as well as this new director general is also making various efforts to control them.
Complaints have been raised, meanwhile Dr knowing that lobbying will not work. Omar Ali has appointed three workers as irregular.
Last week the appointment was given from the institute. It has been alleged that the syndicate led by Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Department Hasibur Rahman also traded in this appointment. This business partner Dr Omar Ali too.
Sources say there is a syndicate within the company that has been embezzling money through recruitment, transfers, promotions, and various projects.
The head of this syndicate is the institute's Chief Scientific Officer and Department Head, Hasibur Rahman. Abu Taher Sohel, currently serving as Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Department Administration, also plays a role in managing the syndicate.
Their assistants include Tofail Ahmed, serving as Chief Scientific Officer (current duty) and Divisional Head of the Administration Department (additional duty), along with Aminul Haque, Shariful Islam, SM Rezaul Karim, Abdul Azim, Rashedur Rahman Rajiv, Sanjit Mandal as Scientific Officers and In-charge, and Abdullah Baki as Head of the Accounts and Audit Department.
In 2016, the institute's DG Dr Khalilur Rahman's car collided with the Chief Scientific Officer. Following Abdullah's death in a car accident, the syndicate allegedly held the Director General hostage.
Since then, all the directors general who have come have allegedly been exploited like hostages.
Dr Omar Ali, who became DG on December 19, 2022, reportedly collaborated with the syndicate, benefiting financially from various projects and appointments.
The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council took notice when the media repeatedly reported on these corruption allegations. Earlier this month, a delegation visited for an on-site investigation. During this time, Dr Omar Ali reportedly launched campaigns to extend his tenure. While the Agricultural Research Council and the Ministry were actively involved, a new director general was appointed by the ministry on the last day of Dr Ali's tenure, June 11.
It is known that the new Director General Dr. Ferdausi Islam will take office from tomorrow Sunday. He received his bachelor's degree from Bangladesh Agricultural University and his master's degree from Shere-e Bangla Agricultural University. Later he obtained PhD and doctorate degree abroad.
The new Director General, Dr Ferdowsi Islam, will assume office starting tomorrow (Sunday). He completed his Bachelor's degree from Bangladesh Agricultural University and Master's degree from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Later, he obtained a PhD and doctorate degree abroad.
He developed nine new varieties of vegetables through his own research while at the Agricultural Research Institute and made special contributions to the development of technology.
He joined government service in 1990 as an officer in the Agricultural Research Firm at Pabna. During his working life, he efficiently performed various positions in agricultural research.
According to the complaint, this syndicate of 10 people within the institute has wielded influence for the past eight to 10 years. They have allegedly embezzled crores of taka from government project allocations by undermining the Director General. Additionally, they are accused of siphoning off crores of rupees through corrupt recruitment practices.
Meanwhile, upon completion of the project, officials and employees were transferred to the revenue sector, and their positions were nationalized. However, the syndicate allegedly prevented at least 20 scientific officers from certain projects from gaining employment, allegedly because they did not pay bribes, impacting their livelihoods.
They alleged that the syndicate led by Hasibur Rahman demanded Tk 5 to 7 lakh from each person, and jobs were not made permanent due to non-payment of this amount.
With the appointment of the new director general, they are hopeful that he will be benevolent towards them and reinstate their permanent job statuses.
Messenger/Fameema
