More than 500 fishermen of Doubluganj under Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali were not allowed to receive their 'allocated rice' which was sanctioned for them for refraining from catching Jatka Hilsa ( Hilsha fries). Those fishermen returned empty-handed after waiting in the sun for hours as the influential people close to the local Public Representatives snatched away their allocated rice recently. The destitute fishermen and their family members are even afraid to make any complaints to anyone because of possible retaliation from the influential quarters.
In Wards 7,8, and 9 of Doubluganj UP Members Shirina Begum was in the charge of distribution of the slip cards for the fishermen. She said, she did not receive any slip for the distribution of rice and did not distribute any slip to anyone. A total of 1336 fishermen are listed from the Union to receive rice.
Deprived fisherman Mannan Khalifa informed he does not have a house. He lives with his family at the seashore with his family members and used to earn his living by fishing. Now, the catching of Jatka is banned. The Eid is nearing. He thought, by receiving his allocated 80 kilogramme of rice, he would survive somehow with the family members. But, he mentioned with utter distress that the rice allocated to his card had been given to another one. Fisherman Hasan Howlader informed that he was given a slip for rice but his allocated rice has been given to someone else.
More than 50 of such deprived fishermen complained that the cards had been issued in their names but their allocated rice was given to the influential motorbike owners, auto drivers, people close to the Members and the Chairman. If they do any protest, they are threatened to cancel their names from the list. Moreover, only a very limited number of fishermen who received the rice were given 65 to 70 kilogrammes of rice instead of 80 kilogrammes.
It is alleged, the influential ruling party leaders and activists were involved in the distribution of the cards for the fishermen. Local public representatives are helpless against talking about anything in this connection.
Upazila Fisheries Officer and Upazila Project Implementation Officer of Doubluganj upazila were aware of the irregularities in the distribution of 80 kgs of rice among the fishermen. Representatives and the concerned officials from the local Administration and the Fisheries Department are supposed to remain present during the distribution of rice but no one was seen there.
Humanyun Kabir, PIO informed, action will be taken in case of any irregularities.
Hedayet Ullah, UP Chairman in this connection admitted that no rice has been allocated to the names of the listed fishermen. But, he said, those deprived will be given rice later on.
