UNO returns Tk 1.02cr in unspent canal project funds at Char Fasson

BHOLA, July 31: The upazila administration in Char Fasson has returned more than Tk 1.02 crore to the government treasury after completing a canal re-excavation project at a lower cost than the allocated budget.

According to the upazila administration, Tk 2 crore 6 lakh was allocated under the Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP) in the 2025-26 fiscal year to re-excavate a 3.7-kilometre canal stretching from Subal Doctor Bari to Sundari Bridge via Jailya Bari.

Officials said the project was implemented in line with government guidelines and technical standards. However, as the canal's width and excavation depth were lower than initially estimated in several sections, the work was completed without using the full allocation.

As a result, Tk 1 crore 2 lakh 35 thousand 249 remained unspent and was returned to the state treasury in accordance with government financial regulations.

The move has been widely praised by local residents, who said it reflected transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
Char Fasson Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Romana Afroz said the canal had become virtually unusable after years of neglect and siltation.

"The re-excavation was undertaken to improve water flow, ease waterlogging and restore the local ecological balance," she said.
She added that the administration returned the entire unspent amount as part of its commitment to ensuring transparency and preventing misuse of public funds.

"We are committed to maintaining financial discipline and ensuring the proper use of government resources," the UNO said.