Dhaka, June 14 -- A World Bank-funded drainage project in Savar appears to have found an unusual fundraising tool: the mosque loudspeaker.

Allegations have surfaced that "hundreds of thousands of taka" were collected from residents of Jamsingh Joypara in Savar Municipality after announcements were made over a mosque microphone in the name of the development project.

Residents say the announcements warned that drainage work in the area would stop unless they made payments.

Local authorities said the drainage construction is being implemented under the Local Government COVID-19 Response and Recovery Project, or LGCRRP, financed by the World Bank.

Savar Upazila administrator, or UNO, Mohammad Saiful Islam said on Sunday that complaints h...