RANGPUR : Allegations of nepotism have surfaced against Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Nurul Amin of Rangpur-6 (Pirganj) constituency for allegedly appointing close relatives, including his nephew and brothers-in-law, as presidents of several government-funded development projects.

According to local sources, the MP received special government allocations for the current fiscal year, including Tk 30 lakh under the Test Relief (TR) programme, Tk 25 lakh under the Kabita programme and 40 metric tonnes of food grains under the Kabikha programme.

The MP reportedly submitted a total of 30 projects for implementation in his constituency, including 14 projects under TR, 11 under Kabita and five under Kabikha.

A visit to Tularampur village under Pirganj Sadar Union found that work was underway on two projects financed through the MP's special allocations.

One of the projects involves the development of a prayer room and earth-filling work on adjacent land under the Kabikha programme with an allocation of 10 metric tonnes of food grains. The project's president was appointed as Yakub Ali, the husband of the MP's cousin.

Another project includes road paving from Yakub Ali's house to Mushfiq's residence, construction of a guide wall beside Yakub's pond and earth-filling work. The president of this project is Salman Sharif Shawon, Yakub Ali's son and the MP's nephew.

As a result, both the father and son have been appointed as heads of two separate projects, triggering criticism among local residents.

Sources also alleged that several other projects were assigned to the MP's relatives and local leaders and activists of his party.

Mukul Mia, a resident of Tularampur, said the MP had appointed his relatives as project heads for multiple schemes related to the prayer room, raising questions about the proper implementation of the projects.

Another local resident, Manju Mia, expressed frustration, saying that a decades-old Jame Mosque in the area, where more than a hundred worshippers regularly offer prayers, had been denied funding despite an application for development assistance.

"Instead, the MP favoured his relatives by giving them these projects," he alleged.

Rejecting the allegations, project president Yakub Ali said he was unaware of the exact allocation or funding of the projects.

"I was asked by the office to carry out the work and I am doing it. There is no nepotism here," he said.

Pirganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahmudul Hasan said the identity of the project president was not the main issue, as there was no scope to withdraw funds without completing the work.

"However, since the matter has generated discussion, it will be investigated," he said.

Attempts to contact MP Md Nurul Amin over the phone for his comments were unsuccessful as he did not answer repeated calls.