The government had asked the chairmen and members of Union Parishads to distribute 10 kilograms of rice to each of the ultra-poor and destitute families ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to soften the blow of a spiralling inflation. This rice was allocated as Prime Minister’s Eid gift.
But, Giyas Uddin Bachchu, chairman of South Gandharbapur Union Parishad under Haziganj upazila of Chandpur district in association with a member and four other locals tried to sell this rice secretly. Police recovered 83 sacks of rice from two separate places of the union.
Country’s people believe the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always stands by the people during any crisis as it works for the welfare of the people. Sheikh Hasina had also warned that any irregularity and negligence would not be tolerated in distributing 10 kilograms of rice to each of the ultra-poor and destitute families.
Violating the prime minister’s order Giyas Uddin Bachchu and a member of the union parishad did not distribute the rice among the poor. After taking rice out of government depots, the food grains were diverted to private houses at dead of night.
It is alleged that the chairman and members have been stealing the rice and selling them to the local hoarders since long. But this is nothing new for our country. The same grim scenario is prevailing across the country.
We were deeply saddened to witness the continuation of such theft and corruption that has engulfed country’s grassroots areas in many ways. Therefore, it is not correct to say that only government officials are corrupt and the public representatives and politicians are not. Corruption has become deep-rooted in the country.
As per government high command directives, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh provides family cards to the low-income group people so that they can purchase rice, soybean oil, sugar and lentil at an affordable price. But, the people are being compelled to give bribe to the chairmen and members of union parishads and local hoodlums to renew their family cards, according to reports published in different national dailies and news agencies. People are seen queuing up in a long line in front of different unions of the country to give bribe to renew each family card, according to media report.
Chairman and members
have been allegedly stealing
the rice and selling them to
the local hoarders since long
Before the election, the chairmen and members usually promise that they would always stay beside people, dedicate themselves (chairmen and members) and enhance humane attitude. However, many people allegedly fall victim to corruption, humiliation, harassment and physical torture in some union parishads across the country.
If the public representatives like upazila chairmen and union parishad chairmen and members get involved in stealing rice, abusing power and taking bribe from the common people, they must not be spared.
The authorities concerned must ensure exemplary punishment to the corrupt chairmen and members whoever he might be. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina repeatedly issued strong warning against graft especially by public representatives and civil servants.
But the common people are yet to get rid of the menace of corruption, irregularities and mismanagement as no stern action has been taken against the public representatives from grassroots to central level. It is time to take action on corruption and do a review of the entire system.
Now people are seeing how corruption is happening, as institutions are being destroyed. Not everyone is corrupt. But everyone is responsible. We still believe no corrupt person will be spared as the government has announced ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption. Corruption must be stopped from grassroots to central level at any cost.
