Rice for poor in the hands of clubs

Pabna Officers' Club received rice from a government support programme meant for the vulnerable and the poor.

From the district relief and rehabilitation office, it received 3 tonnes of rice for making furniture for its office and another 5 tonnes for installing submersible pumps on June 25.

This club is not alone.

Officers' clubs and press clubs in six upazilas of the district -- Chatmohor, Faridpur, Bhangura, Sujanagar, Santhia and Ishwardi -- and Rifle Club, Tennis Club, and Ladies' Club in Sadar upazila also got the assistance known as Manobik Sohayota Kormosuchi, according to documents.

Biswas Russel Hossain, then deputy commissioner of Pabna, signed two memos distributing 203 tonnes of relief rice among 100 organisations.

According to the disaster management and relief ministry guideline on its website, those who are poor and ultra-poor; people, families, and institutions affected by disasters; people who do not have food; children suffering from malnutrition; underprivileged people during religious festivals are eligible for the support.

Government and non-government orphanages, and religious institutions are also eligible for the assistance.

Each organisation may get highest 5 tonnes in each allotment, according to the guideline.

Depending on necessity and under special consideration, the government can extend the support to any person, organisation, and community, it said.

Mirza Hasan Shahid, a retired government officer living in the district, told The Daily Star that privileged public and private social clubs receiving the humanitarian assistance was shocking.

"The government runs the relief distribution work for the development of the underprivileged people and communities. Surprisingly, some of the relief materials are distributed among the privileged organisations, depriving the poor."

He added that a syndicate is involved in misappropriating relief materials.

"This is a long-time practice that must be stopped," Shahid said.

Prof Shibojit Nag, president of anti-graft committee of Pabna chapter, said distribution of relief rice among the "elite" organisations is a violation of the rules.

"The government runs relief schemes to improve the lives and livelihoods of the underprivileged people and communities, but in many cases, the real beneficiaries are deprived," said Nag.

He added that proper monitoring is essential so that the right people and communities get the benefit.

WHAT RECIPIENTS SAY

Pabna Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tahmida Akter, also the Pabna Officers' Club secretary, said they got the rice allocation following due procedure.

Asked whether the club sought the rice, Tahmida sidestepped the question and said, "The authorities can allocate rice to any organisation according to need."

Regarding the allocation for installing submersible pumps and making furniture, she said, "There are many needs of the organisation. So, the club got the allocation like any other organisations."

Sujanagar UNO Tarikul Islam, also president of Sujanagar Officers' Club, said they got 3 tonnes of relief rice for repair of the club building and other expenses.

"Although this is an organisation of the government officers, it does not earn enough to maintain itself. The club building needs some repair work and that's why we have taken the relief rice following the procedure."

Santhia UNO Md Masud Hossain, also president of Santhia Officers' Club, said by taking the relief rice, the club did not violate any rules.

Helalur Rahman Jewel, former president of Chatmohar Press Club and now a member of the club's convening committee, claimed that they did not initially submit any application for the rice.

"During the June-closing time for the relief allocation, the upazila administration informed us about the allotment of rice for the club. After that we formed a project implementation committee for getting it."

He added that after getting the demand order letter for 2 tonnes of rice, they sold it for Tk 38,500 per tonne. "The money will be spent for development work of the club."

Manik Mia Rana, president of Santhia Press Club, said they got 2 tonnes of rice. "We have sold the rice for Tk 35,000 per tonne to a syndicate of rice traders who controls the price of relief rice."

Contacted, Md Rejaul Karim, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said around 800 tonnes of rice were distributed among different institutions, including religious, social, cultural and government, through various relief programmes in 2022-23 fiscal year.

"Those who got the allocation submitted applications for getting the support," Karim said, adding that everything was done following due procedure.

Then Pabna DC Biswas Russel told this correspondent that he did not find any irregularities in the distribution of relief rice.

"According to need of the organisations, we have allocated relief rice following the rules. So, who is involved that is not important," said Russel, who has recently been transferred to the Economic Relations Department as a deputy secretary.

Enamur Rahman, state minister for disaster management and relief, told The Daily Star that he was not aware of GR rice being distributed to privileged organisations. "The GR rice is meant for the poor. It is not for the privileged class like officers."