Betar artistes in Thakurgaon continue agaitation
Artistes of Thakurgaon station of Bangladesh Betar, covering their mouths with black cloth, form a human chain in the town yesterday demanding their arrears and removal of some 'corrupt' staff.Photo: STAR
Artistes of Thakurgaon Station of Bangladesh Betar, covering their mouths with black cloth, formed a human chain in the town yesterday demanding immediate removal and punishment of some staff including the regional director of the radio station for 'embezzling' government fund allocated for the artistes. The artistes of the radio station also demanded payment of their arrears for over a year. Addressing a rally at the venue at Thakurgaon intersection, the speakers said a large number of artistes are not getting honorarium for over a year due to alleged corruption of some staff including the Regional Director (RD) of Thakurgaon Station of Bangladesh Betar and a master roll accountant. After Deputy Regional Director Mostafa Kamal joined the station in the last week of February this year, it was revealed that Tk 15 lakh was embezzled from government allotted fund for the artistes of the station. On May 5, the RD filed a GD with Sadar Police Station accusing the master roll accountant of the embezzlement. The RD and the accountant later continued blaming each other for the corruption. A team from Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also visited the radio station to inquire into the matter. Before disclosure of the matter, the RD had informed the artistes that they would not be contracted for programmes due to shortage of fund but he did not say anything about the cause of fund crisis when the artistes asked him, the speakers said. They demanded a neutral investigation into the alleged embezzlement and removal of all 'disqualified artistes selected through nepotism and corruption'. Payment of artistes should be made through bank cheques to avert such corruption in the future, they said. The artistes also demanded setting up a broadcasting house in the town to check corruption. Earlier on June 16, the artistes of the radio station formed a human chain at the same venue demanding removal of the culprits and their punishment.
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