Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Syed Murad Islam has set a rare example of administrative transparency by returning over 19 lakh taka in unspent project funds to the government treasury.
The funds were saved during the implementation of two canal re-excavation projects in Lakhai, Habiganj. His commitment to financial integrity has drawn widespread praise across social media platforms.
According to the Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO), over 2.58 crore taka was initially allocated for the two projects: the Kaliadara-Tegharia canal in Muriauk Union and the Satauk canal. By ensuring strict accountability and maintaining 100% work quality, the administration completed the projects at a cost of just over 2.32 crore taka. The remaining surplus of 1,932,839 taka was promptly deposited back into the state treasury.
UNO Murad explained that savings were primarily achieved by strictly monitoring labor costs and eliminating irregularities. Over 8 lakh taka was saved from the Satauk canal project's labor bill alongside substantial savings from other sectors in the Kaliadara-Tegharia project.
"Government money belongs to the people," UNO Murad stated. "We did not allow anyone to inflate bills by showing fake workers on paper. Payments were only made for actual work done, and the remaining money was rightfully returned to the state."
