State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has alleged that interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan approved a government file without the signature of the concerned secretary.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Saturday, the state minister said the file was taken and approved without following the proper rules of procedure and business.

“A file came to my notice. During the interim government, an adviser (Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan) forcibly took the file without the secretary’s signature and approved it himself. This is completely against the rules,” he said, adding that a minister or adviser cannot approve files without the approval of the concerned secretary under existing regulations.

He said an investigation committee would be formed into alleged irregularities in infrastructure development and corruption in Pirojpur.

The state minister also announced that development activities suspended in Pirojpur for the past 18 months would be restarted.

He said a high-level committee has already been formed with a 60-day deadline to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption in various sectors under the Local Government Ministry over the past 15 to 17 years.

According to him, the investigation has revealed allegations of around Tk 6,000 crore being withdrawn from the state exchequer through fake bills without actual work being completed.

He also claimed that in many cases payments were made after tenders and work orders, allegedly involving influential officials and secretaries at the time.

He further said many contractors accused in these cases are now absconding in countries including Dubai.

The state minister alleged that several development projects in Pirojpur were approved within 24 hours, “in the dark of night”.

Citing an example, he said a bridge built at a cost of Tk 12 crore has no connecting road, forcing people to use ladders to access it.

Mir Shahe Alam said a special delegation will visit Pirojpur after Eid as part of a government decision, and that repair works on roads and bridges outside the projects under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) would begin on a limited scale.

He also said the government aims to complete all local government elections within one year, with the process likely to begin during the dry season.

The state minister added that a new law is being prepared to regulate easy bikes and electric vehicles. If approved by BUET design standards, city corporations and municipalities will be able to register such vehicles.