Distribution of VGF Rice: Irregularities in several districts

Complaints of irregularities in the distribution of VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) rice have been reported in several districts.

Many distressed people have allegedly been deprived of their share of the rice, while others complained about receiving less than the allotted amount.

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The rice was supposed to be given as government assistance to the poor and distressed ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

There have been allegations against some local representatives and people involved in the rice distribution for misappropriation, selling the rice in the black market, nepotism in preparing the list and the subsequent distribution.

The VGF rice distribution in Rajhsahi district's Bagha upazila ended on Thursday.

But a mobile court, led by Assistant Commissioner Imrul Kayes, recovered ten sacks of rice, amounting to 500 kilograms, from the house of Arab Ali, a member of the rice distribution committee.

Hekmot Ali, sub-assistant engineer of the upazila relief and rehabilitation office, filed a case against Arab and his brother Lalon Uddin with Bagha Police Station for misappropriating VGF rice.

Arab was president of Awami League unit at ward-4 of Gargari union while his brother Lalon is a rice trader, locals said.

Arab, however, claimed that he “bought” the rice from the poor people.

Many poor people with VGF cards from different upazilas complained about receiving less than their allotted shares of 20kgs of rice each.

Rajshahi Additional Deputy Commissioner Alamgir Kabir said they distributed 3,085 tonnes of rice among 1, 54,000 VGF card holders in all 14 municipalities and nine upazilas of the district, adding that they were yet to receive any complaint over the issue.

However, there have been reports of complaints from different upazilas.

Local lawmaker Omar Faruk Chowdhury received similar complaints during the distribution in Tanore upazila on Sunday.

When contacted, he said the complaints came from some people of Pakri and Mundumala unions.

However, he also said that even though there may be some truth to the complaints, there have been no incidents of misappropriation of VGF rice under his supervision as he has asked the officials to ensure distribution of the full shares.

In Moulvibazar, some distressed people of Joyfornagor union in Juri upazila complained that they received several kilograms less than their allotted share. 

Upon visiting some of the distribution centers, our local correspondent found the allegations to be true.

Jasim Mia, a local VGF card holder, said the officials announced that 20kgs of rice would be given to each, whereas he received only 16kgs.

Besides, many locals alleged nepotism during the preparation of the list of VGF card holders where many distressed people had been excluded.

Allegations of anomalies, looting, and weight of the distributed rice being less than what is allotted also arose from different upazilas of Dinajpur, Rangpur and Joypurhat.

Some 1,810 VGF cards were distributed among the poor at Shatagram union parishad in Birganj upazila in Dinajpur, where the VGF rice allotment was 36.2 metric tonnes.

However, half of the card holders allegedly failed to receive their share of the rice.

Kutum Uddin, chairman of the union, refused to make any comments over the alleged looting of rice.

Khairul Islam, an executive magistrate, during a visit to Dinajpur municipality on Saturday, found that poor people were being given lesser amounts of rice than what was allotted for them.

While there was supposed to be a distribution of 20kg of rice per person, the magistrate found only 18.4kg of rice in each bag.

Later, Altaf Hossain, project implementation officer of Dinajpur Sadar upazila, filed a case with Kotwali Police Station on Saturday night with allegations against three people -- Syed Zahangir Alam, mayor of Dinajpur municipality, his councillor Masudur Rahman of ward-5, and storekeeper Mozibur Rahman.

Police arrested Zahangir Alam and Mozibur.

In Joypurhat, 140 bags of rice had gone missing from Khetlal upazila.

The UNOs of Panchbibi and Kalai upazilas of Joypurhat, however, on August 14, recovered the missing bags and also seized an additional 95 bags of VGF rice.

In Gangachara upazila of Rangpur, many poor people were yet to receive their shares of the VGF rice.

In Jessore, police arrested two people -- Raihan Rahman, 30, and Bazlur Rahman, 40, both from Banorhuda village -- along with 3,000kgs of VGF rice in the district's Chaugachha upazila on Sunday night.

The arrestees alleged that the rice was owned by one Shimul Hossain.

Shimul, however, claimed that he “bought” the rice from the distressed people.

Officer-in-Charge of Chaugachha Police Station Sameem Uddin said, "We have brought the rice to the police station. After the investigation, necessary actions will be taken.”

In Gazipur, a grocery shop owner, Abdur Rahsid, was arrested with 950kgs of VGF rice in Dimla upazila on Sunday night.