UP chairman accused of corruption in Patuakhali

Eight out of 12 members of Bashbaria Union Parishad in Dashmina upazila on Sunday submitted a written complaint to the deputy commissioner, bringing allegations of massive irregularities against the UP chairman.

They also sent the copies of the complaint to the local lawmaker, upazila nirbahi officer and other officials concerned..

UNO Md Azharul Islam formed a four-member probe body, headed by upazila women's affairs officer, in this regard.

Kohinoor Begum, one of the applicants, said many river erosion victims took shelter at Char Bashbaria and Char Bhutam in the union, but they were later evicted as the government acquired land of the char areas to set up a hybrid seed farm. 

UP Chairman Altaf Hossain Hawlader took Tk one to 1.50 lakh from each villager against a certificate issued by him to get compensation for their land," she said, adding that the evicted people were bound to pay the money as they badly needed certificates from the chairman to receive money from the district administration.

The chairman also took money from poor people to get VGF and VGD cards, alleged another UP member Md Helal Uddin.

Contacted, Md Shakhawat Hossain, chairman of Dashmina Upazila Parishad, said proper steps will be taken against Altaf Hossain if he is found guilty.

Refuting the allegations, the UP chairman said "They are spreading propaganda against me."

Punitive action would be taken against the UP chairman if the charges brought against him are proved, said the UNO.