When the country as well as the entire world is struggling hard to fight against the deadly COVID-19 or coronavirus, a section of people, mainly some of the elected representatives and political leaders, is engaged in looting relief materials depriving poor people. According to information, chairmen of different upazilas, union parishads and members along with local leaders of ruling Bangladesh Awami League are mainly involved with such type of illicit acts.
Reports received from different districts and upazilas across the country say that the law-enforcers in separate drives have recovered over 3,000 sacks of rice sanctioned as government relief for people from the residences or storehouses of different unscrupulous people. The law-enforcers have also arrested many of the public representatives and political leaders for their involvement with such types of irregularities and corruptions while many cases were filed against them. A large number of those accused persons have gone into hiding.
According to information received from different police stations and upazila administrations, at least 550 sacks of rice were stolen in Patharghataupazila, 100 sacks of rice in Bogura, 13 sacks of rice in Natore, 7 sacks of rice in Joypurhat, 635 sacks of rice in Jashore, 338 sacks of rice inn Naogaon, 18 sacks of rice in Bagerhat, 10 sacks of rice in Patuakhali, 50 sacks of rice in Jhalokathi, 125 sacks of rice in Sylhet, 16 sacks of rice in Mymensingh, 288 sacks of rice in Sariakandi, 100 sacks of rice in Gabtoliupazila and 13 sacks of rice in Shibganj. As per the information received, police caughtMonir Hossain, Kamalapur Union Parishad Chairman of Patuakhalisadarupazila, and two of his accomplices, red handed while they were selling rice.
Another UP Chairman AlauddinPoltu of Kakchira Union Parishad in Patharghataupazila of Barguna district was arrested for the same reason. In Jashore, police arrested two people named Raqib Hasan and Hasibul Hasan after 80 sacks of stolen rice were recovered from their respective houses.
In Natore, a local leader of Awami League in Singraupazila named Shahin Shah was arrested for stealing 13 sacks of rice. Meanwhile, the ACC in a statement on Friday said that it will bring the culprits involved in the misappropriation of government relief meant for needy to book.
"We have learned through media and ACC's own intelligence that some people are involved in irregularities and grafts in distributing relief under the government's social safety net programme in this critical period," ACC said in the statement. The Commission has decided that its officials will closely monitor the relief distribution activities in coordination with deputy commissioners of each district.
"If anyone is found to have amassed wealth illegally through misappropriation of relief, stern legal action will be taken against them," it stated. ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said they have already given instructions to their officials in this regard. The top ACC official said they will not spare any corrupt person in connection with relief misappropriation.
