Trading in misery

A octogenarian woman (cross-marked) got frustrated not getting rice under VGF programme at Itakhola village under Sadar upazila in Nilphamari Thursday noon. Irregularities in distribution of VGF rice are being reported from different areas of flood- and- diarrhoea- affected Nilphamari... PHOTO: STAR

A section of Union Parishad chairmen, in connivance with some food department officials, are involved in the irregularities.

The irregularities were revealed during visits by Additional Secretary Bodiar Rahman to different areas. On Thursday, he inspected relief distribution in Itakhola, Panchapukur, Chaprasaranjami, Charaikhola and some other unions.

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He has been sent from Dhaka to monitor relief distribution, witnessed the irregularities at different unions of the district on Thursday.

During his visit, hundreds of people, male and female, at different places complained to him that chairman and members were not giving VGF cards to the real needy people but selling each card at Tk 60 to 70.

On the other hand, some of the UP chairman and members also complained to him that they were being cheated by the food department. While taking delivery of rice from LSDs (local supply depot), they are getting 62 kgs of rice in a sack instead of 82 kgs, they complained.

During a spot investigation at a LSD, the additional secretary also found 62 kgs of rice in sacks instead of 82 kgs.

Asked about action for irregularities, he said he would place the matter before higher authorities.