Clarification
Directorate of Social Welfare (DSW) on Tuesday clarified some portion of The Daily Star's February 19 report "Project closes but staff use vehicles" saying it was 'taking necessary steps to turn the cars to the government's revenue head'. Sheikh Asaduzzaman, public relations officer of the Ministry of Social Welfare, in a letter said a process was on to transfer the project vehicles to the revenue head from the development head as per government rules adding that it might take some time. A parliamentary sub-committee is probing corruption charges against its officials who worked in two DSW projects between 1996 and 2000, it added. Regarding overdrawing of funds from a project in financial year 2002-03, it further claimed flawed interpretation of government orders at the end of the fiscal year led to such overdrawing. The letter said depositing money at different branches of a government bank from the treasury caused the mistake and the excess amount was later returned to the Bangladesh Bank. No DSW officials ever handled the overdrawn cash and the matter was reconciled with the office of chief accounts officer, it added.
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