Eid passes off, special VGF rice still eludes 2600
At least 2,600 poor and vulnerable families in Udakahli union under Phulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district did not get VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) rice under special allotment ahead of Eid-ul-Azha due to alleged irregularities by the UP chairman and members.
Meanwhile, police arrested a union parishad (UP) chairman In Narail Sadar upazila on Thursday for 'misappropriation' of VGF rice.
Our Gaibandha correspondent reported that Phulchhari upazila administration had earlier approved a list submitted by the Udakahli Union Parishad (UP) chairman and members to distribute 26 tonnes of rice among 2600 poor and vulnerable families.
Accordingly, the UP chairman fixed Thursday (October 25) to distribute 10 kgs of rice against each family. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mehedi-ul-Shahid and Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Abu Hena paid a surprise visit to Udakahli union and found that rice was being given to slip holders instead of the names mentioned on the list.
The UNO immediately stopped distribution of rice and asked the UP chairman to explain why the approved list of the poor vulnerable families was not being followed.
Locals alleged that UP Chairman Abdul Baki Sarker and the members issued some slips to their chosen people and sold the rest to local rice traders for Tk 150 per slip.
The poor and vulnerable people, who gathered on the premises of Udakahli Union Parishad office to receive VGF rice under special allotment, returned empty handed.
Abdul Aziz, a local rice trader, said he procured 200 rice slips from the UP members. “Recovery of money from the members is now uncertain as the UNO has stopped distribution of rice,” the rice trader said.
Contacted, the UNO said legal steps will be taken against the people involved in irregularities in distribution of VGF rice.
In Narail, Chairman Emdadul Haque Nannu of Sahabagh Union Parishad under Sadar upazila was arrested on Thursday on charge of misappropriating VGF rice from the UP office, according to our correspondent.
Locals alleged that the chairman misappropriated 100 kgs of VGF rice to sell them on the black market. They confined him to his office and informed the police who later took him to Sadar Police Station.
The UP chairman was yesterday produced in a court that sent him to jail, rejecting his bail prayer.
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