19 face case, property attachment ordered

The general certificate court also issued directives for attachment of their property for non-payment of the money.

Official investigations revealed earlier that the 19, in connivance with some people in the ministry, had forged 28 delivery orders and lifted food grains against 356 fake test relief projects in Polashbari.

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The fake delivery orders were faxed to the Gaibandha Deputy Commissioner between May 5 and June 28 in 2001.

The authorities in Gaibandha ordered release of the food grains without confirmation from the ministry or any other relevant authorities. The lifted food grains were sold in the black market.

The ministry later denied issuing the 28 orders.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Sirajul Islam Sikder and Palashbari Upazila Project Implementation Officer Shamsul Huq were suspended for "gross negligence in duty" after a three-member probe committee headed by relief ministry secretary Fazlur Rahman detected the scam.

The matter was referred to the Bureau of Anti-corruption, which submitted a report to higher authorities suggesting filing of case.

But others involved in the scam are yet to be brought to book.