The administrator of Cumilla Zilla Parishad brought allegations against NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah and spokesperson Asif Mahmud of engaging in widespread irregularities during the tenure of the interim government.

“Under the name of ‘coordinators’, former adviser Asif Mahmud took Tk 15 crore to Muradnagar and Hasnat Abdullah took Tk 10 crore to Debidwar from the Comilla Zilla Parishad during the tenure of the interim government,” Administrator Haji Md Mostak Mia said while speaking as a special guest at an event marking the 45th martyrdom anniversary of former president Ziaur Rahman at Cumilla Shilpakala Academy.

Hasnat, speaking to The Daily Star, rejected the allegation.

He said the money was allocated for development projects in Debidwar upazila. “The money the zilla parishad administrator referred to was a budget allocation for the upazila. It was a special allocation from the Local Government Division and was spent through the zilla parishad. It was not given to me personally.”

Hasnat said the Cumilla Zilla Parishad administrator changed his comment and said that he did not say Hasnat personally took the money.

In a phone conversation with Hasnat, Mostak reportedly said the money went to development works in his area through the zilla parishad.

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Hasnat Abdullah

“No, no, not from the revenue fund. From all funds combined, the money went to your area through my zilla parishad,” he said.

Asked what he had meant, Mostak said, “I said you [Hasnat and Asif] took Tk 25 crore for development works in two upazilas.”

Mostak said maybe the full part of his statement did not appear in the media.

Mostak again said he did not accuse Hasnat of embezzling the money.

“I did not say you [Hasnat] embezzled the money. I said you took it for work in your area,” Hasnat quoted him as saying.

According to local sources, Mostak is also a co-organising secretary of BNP’s Cumilla divisional unit.

Asked about the allegation, Hasnat said Tk 5 crore was allocated for 42 development works in Debidwar.

“The money was given through ADP projects. It has no connection with the zilla parishad’s revenue fund,” he said.

He said the zilla parishad administrator would not have made such a remark had he understood the difference between revenue funds and special allocation.

“He spoke in a way that made it seem as if we had pocketed the money ourselves. In reality, the allocation was made for different development works in Devidwar,” Hasnat said.

The NCP leader said the allegation was misleading and created a wrong impression about the use of the public funds.

He maintained that the money was project-based and had been spent through the official channel of the zilla parishad, not transferred to any individual.

Talking to The Daily Star, Mostak Mia said most of the money from the ADB and the special development allocation of the zilla parishad at that time was directed to Muradnagar and Debidwar upazilas.

Very little money was allocated to the other upazilas, he added.

“They themselves speak against discrimination, yet they carry out discriminatory activities. Basically, this is what I wanted to convey,” Mostak added.