ACC sues 20 over stealing rice for poor

The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed total 15 cases against 20 people, including 14 representatives of the local government, for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of about 54,000kg subsidised rice allocated for the poor and vulnerable people.

The cases were filed between April 12 and May 11, according to a press release issued by the ACC yesterday.

ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said everyone involved in misappropriation will have to face legal action.

He said, if necessary, the ACC will form a task force to monitor the investigation and legal proceedings of the cases.

Of the accused, seven are chairmen of different union parishads (UPs). They are Alauddin Paltu of Barguna's Kakrachira union, Shahidul Islam of Barishal's Andarmanik union, Mirza Golam Hafiz Sohag of Bogura's Majhihatta union, Jarjid Mollah of Narail's Perli union, Alauddin Chowhdury of Narail' Joynogor union, BM Nasir Uddin Swapan of Shariatpur's Kuchaipotti union and Samsuddoha alias Dr Ratan of Shariatpur's Arshi Nagar union.

Alauddin, Golam Hafiz and Samsuddoha are behind the bar while the rest are at large.

Seven accused UP members are Sekendar Mia of Nayansree union in Dhaka's Nawabganj, Shamim Bepari and Mofachhar Bepari of Shariatpur's Kuchaipotti union, Sultan Member of Sherpur's Moddhopoavag union, Minara Begum of Shrepur's Malijhikandi union, Minhajuddin of Tangail's Jadavpur union and Ismail Fakir of Madaripur's Bashkandi union.

All of them have been arrested except Shamim Bepari.

Analysing the case statements, it has been found poor fishermen in different districts suffered the most due to the misappropriation.

For example, UP chairman Alauddin of Barguna's Kakrachira union got rice to allocate among 550 fishermen families in the union. He was supposed to provide 80kg rice to a family whereas he provided only 30kg.

In this way, he allegedly misappropriated about 27,500kg rice worth around Tk 12 lakh. Alauddin is now in jail.

UP Chairman Shahidul of Barishal's Andharmanik union embezzled about 3,840kg rice allocated for 384 fishermen.

Apart from UP chairmen and members, three rice dealers -- Moshiur Rahman from Bogura's Shibganj upazila and Abu Bakkar Siddiqui and Rafikul Islam from Manikganj's Singair upazila -- were accused in three separate cases filed over similar allegations.