They were BNP activists allegedly appointed on political consideration during the tenure of the immediate past four-party alliance government, sources in the pourasabha claimed.

The terminated employees are Momrej Ali, Al-Amin, Abdus Salam, Rezaul Islam, Aleya Begum, Safiqul Islam, Rekha Parvin, Sahanur Rahman and Abdul Mazed.

Pourasava administrator Samimul Islam Siddique, who is also the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), in an order terminated them after a probe body found gross irregularities including bribery, political influence and nepotism in the selection process. They were appointed solely on political consideration, which burdened the pourasava even though there were no vacancies, the sources said.

According to the sources, the Pourasava authorities appointed 14 local BNP leaders and activists in posts of fourth class employees only to provide them with jobs.

They were appointed because they were men of former BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib, the sources alleged.

Of the terminated employees, Aleya Begum, Al Amin, Abdus Salam and Momrej told this correspondent that local BNP leaders appointed them as fourth class employees, taking Tk 70,000 to one lakh from each of them.

A leader of Kalaroa upazila Juba Dal took the money, they said.

They (terminated employees) said they are now looking for the Jubo Dal leader to get back their money. They also demanded punishment of the BNP leaders who took many from them.

On contact, Kalaroa pourasava secretary Maniruzzaman said, under the pressure and political influence of former lawmaker Habib, they were compelled to appoint them who were BNP supporters.

While talking to this correspondent, Kalaroa pourasava administrator and UNO Samimul Islam Siddique said, the pourasava authorities terminated their services as they were appointed only on political consideration even though there were no vacancies.

He said he will also look into other irregularities in last five years in recruitment and take action as per law.