Operations of the Social Development Foundation (SDF) have collapsed across all 10 unions of Badarganj in Rangpur, amid allegations that crores of taka were misappropriated. The programme, launched in 2011 to organize and provide loans to women from poor and disadvantaged households, is now inactive in every local association. Many offices have been abandoned, overgrown, or damaged, while some are reportedly being used to store crops, fuel and livestock.
The project was funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank, with land purchased and association offices built at union level. Local residents alleged irregularities and corruption in land purchases and construction. Members were expected to deposit instalments collected by association presidents into the project’s own bank, but activities weakened after about a year and eventually stopped in most associations. Several members said they have not recovered savings deposited with the groups.
Sources said about $600 million was invested in the SDF project, which began in 2011 and was scheduled for three years before activities ended around November 2015. SDF officials did not provide requested records or comments on spending, land purchases, construction, loan disbursement or recovery.
কোটি কোটি টাকা লুটপাটে মুখ থুবড়ে পড়েছে রংপুরের বদরগঞ্জে সামাজিক উন্নয়ন ফাউন্ডেশনের (এসডিএফ) কার্যক্রম। একসময় দরিদ্র ও অসচ্ছল পরিবারের নারীদের সংগঠিত করে ঋণ দেওয়ার মাধ্যমে স্বাবলম্বী করার উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হলেও বর্তমানে উপজেলার ১০ ইউনিয়নের সব সমিতির
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