Government cuts salary of SP over ‘irregularities’, syndicated transfers

The interim government has penalised a superintendent of police (SP) by reducing his salary in the pay scale after finding what it said was “proof of several irregularities”, including syndicated transfers and distribution of responsibilities and favouring companies to buy oil from in a breach of work orders.

His actions were deemed as "misconduct" under the Employment Ordinance and he was handed a fine of Tk 850,000 and a “demotion to the lowest (pay) grade” on Apr 30, according to a notification on Sunday.

The officer, SP Mohammad Nazrul Hossain, is currently posted at the CID Headquarters. The investigation officer found evidence that he was involved in these irregularities while serving as the APBn battalion commandant in Muktagacha, Mymensingh.

The home ministry decided to penalise him on the basis of a probe report submitted on Jan 19. The order, signed by Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani, was published on the ministry's website on Sunday.

The notice said the investigation officer had found proof of "misconduct" but not “corruption” in the complaint against Nazrul.

Highlighting that the SP had formed a syndicate consisting of several members of the police force and indulged in irregularities in the battalion while performing his duty, the notification said: "The syndicate members collected the names/designations of the officers willing to be posted to fund/Seresta (record keeper) sections through slip/token at different times and arranged the transfer/posting by taking his signatures."

It said the allegations of irregularities in the distribution of goods from the divisional store by repeatedly posting the same person, buying generators from other companies at a higher price ignoring the work order, and providing work orders for cooking oil to the second, third, fourth lowest instead of the first bidder “have been proven”.

He caused financial losses amounting to Tk 853,670 to the government through these irregularities, the notification added.

“Under the Employee Discipline and Appeal Rules 2018’s sub-rule 1(c) of rule 4(2), the amount has been collected as a fine for the government treasury and per sub-rule (1)(d) of rule 4(2), the penalty ‘downgrading the salary grade to the lower level’ for the next three years has been provided.”

Asked about his punishment, he said: "I have been wronged and oppressed.

"I was a victim of the outrage of the fascist regime's IGP Benazir (Ahmed). During that time, my promotion was blocked 11 times. I was the only SP who was made OSD (officers on special duty) while serving in Sunamganj in 2014.

"Please verify the allegations against me with local representatives. If any of these allegations are found to be true, I will voluntarily resign."

The CID official claims the notification has been issued during the interim administration but the probe report was submitted earlier.

“The punishment has been given based on the report submitted in January. I didn't get justice.”

He said he would file an “appeal” against the punishment.