VGF rice for 2000 uncertain
UP chairman, members at loggerheads over list
Distribution of rice meant for vulnerable group feeding (VGF) among 1953 people in Lokhmikunda union under Ishwardi upazila has become uncertain as the union parishad is yet to prepare a fair list.
Card holders who gathered at the union parishad complex for the special allotment before the Eid-ul-Azha, returned empty handed for the second day on Monday.
“We came here from far off areas to collect just 10 kg rice. But we are afraid if at all we get it before Eid,” Ahsraf Fakir of Dadapur village said.
Lokhmikunda union parishad chairman Anisur Rahman Mollah said, so far 1953 people from nine wards were selected for the special VGF allotment.
“We had set Sunday for distributing the rice but we could not do it because of a directive from the upazila administration,” Anis Mollah said.
Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Naznin Hossain, however, alleged that the UP chairman failed to prepare a list acceptable to the members of the union.
The chairman made the list himself without considering the opinion of the union's members, the UNO claimed.
“UP member Sofura Khatun alleged that he dropped the names suggested by the members in the final list. So we asked the chairman to prepare a fresh list taking opinion of all the members,” the UNO said.
“The chairman prepared the final list unilaterally. We have lodged a complaint in this regard with the upazila administration and local lawmaker,” Sofura told this correspondent.
Brushing aside her allegation, the UP chairman said that the VGF list was prepared as per the final resolution of the union parishad meeting.
All the names were verified before making the final list, the chairman said, adding that they had given priority to the poor and vulnerable people like in the past.
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