SDF ops hit by protests

Operations at the Social Development Foundation (SDF), an autonomous body under the Financial Institutions Division, have been disrupted as officials and employees launched protests demanding the resignation of Chairman Dr Abdul Majid and Managing Director Nurul Amin over allegations of corruption and administrative irregularities.

Employees began work abstention and demonstrations at the SDF headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday under a one-point demand. Staff working under the World Bank-funded Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Improvement (RELI) project also joined the movement. In a statement, protesters accused the SDF leadership of financial irregularities, misuse of institutional assets and recruitment policy violations.

One of the key allegations concerns the procurement of 3,200 laptops under the RELI project. Employees claimed the lowest bid worth Tk 160 million was rejected and lower-quality laptops were purchased at nearly double the price from a questionable company, resulting in alleged embezzlement of Tk 150 million to Tk 160 million. They said the matter is under investigation by the World Bank.

The protesters also alleged that the age limit for the managing director post was raised from 60 to 62 years through a special circular to favour a preferred candidate.

They further claimed that controversial decisions by the current administration had jeopardised SDF's 25-year relationship with the World Bank. Employees recruited in 2022 said they had been assured employment until 2026, but sudden plans to end the RELI project this month have left hundreds facing possible unemployment.

Protesters also accused the administration of sidelining skilled employees, making appointments through financial influence and forcing officials to resign through arbitrary transfers and show-cause notices.

A RELI project representative alleged that corruption and non-cooperation at the top level were hampering efforts to improve poor communities' livelihoods.

The protesters warned of tougher programmes if authorities fail to act and urged government intervention to "save the institution from destruction."