#!/bin/bash
username=$USERNAME
password=$PASSWORD

NEW_USERS=test
PASSWORD=test
HOME_BASE="/home/"

useradd -p ${PASSWORD} -m -d ${HOME_BASE}${NEW_USERS} ${NEW_USERS}
echo "test:test" | chpasswd


(this one works, it creates a user test with password test)

but i want it like this:
-----------------------------------------------------------------

#!/bin/bash
username=$USERNAME
password=$PASSWORD

NEW_USERS=$USERNAME
PASSWORD=$PASSWORD
HOME_BASE="/home/"

useradd -p ${PASSWORD} -m -d ${HOME_BASE}${NEW_USERS} ${NEW_USERS}
echo "$USERNAME:$PASSWORD" | chpasswd

this one does not work :( it doesn't pass the variable but when i do "echo $username" it does give the correct value.
$USERNAME & $PASSWORD are set by a php script.