DHAKA: A good number of staff members of the Environment and Forest Ministry keep most part of their salaries in their provident fund and run their families on extras they allegedly earn by unfair means.

One of the office assistants of the Ministry has stashed 87 percent of his salary into the provident fund defying government rules that allow them to keep no more than 10 percent, a competent source said.

Abdus Sabur deposited Tk 5000 out of his Tk 5760 salary with the provident fund, as evident from the schedule of the fund.

Sabur is not alone. A typist, Manik Chand Sarker, from the same department kept Tk 6000 out of his Tk 11640 salary, Mohammad Shafikul Alam deposited Tk 3000 out of Tk 6640 and MLSS (peon) Shahabuddin Tk 3000 out of Tk 6500.

A different scene is also there: a typist kept Tk 500 whereas the exchequer requires another amount of Tk 500 to be deposited as per the rule.

Sabur, who works with the administration department, used to lobby for officials and employees charged with stealing timber, financial misappropriation and corruption.

Backed by a Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, he enjoys indemnity against all the allegations raised against him, said one of the sources.

When contacted, Sajedul Dulal, Deputy Secretary of the administration section, said he did not know if a staff member had any other family income or any other illegal income. “Sabur is not also anyone close to me. The allegation is improper,” he said.

Sabur joined as an MLSS, but got promotion quickly to Office Assistant.

Despite repeated efforts, Sabur could not be reached for his comment.

BDST: 1245 HRS, AUG 22, 2010