Anomalies in low-cost rice distribution
Even though the initiative to provide cheap rice for the ultra poor is a noble one, some unscrupulous dealers and businessmen in Sylhet city and Sunamganj are tainting the government scheme by selling and purchasing rice in black market and stockpiling them.
On September 7, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated a “Food-Friendly Programme” at Chilmari upazila in Kurigram. Under the programme, selected poor who have special cards would get 30kg rice a month from ration dealers during September-November and March-April at Tk 10 per kg.
But many dealers and businessmen are misusing the government initiative and using it for their own benefit, claim residents of the areas.
In Sylhet Sadar upazila, police on Thursday recovered 4,350kg rice of the government project from a warehouse of one Abdul Wadud, a local businessman, at Bateshwar Bazar, said Sajjadul Alam, assistant commissioner of Shahporan Police Station.
He said Wadud purchased the rice from different dealers. Wadud is on the run, he added.
In Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj, the upazila administration cancelled dealerships of two traders for selling rice to well-off people. The dealers are Abdul Kader Mollah and Azizur Rahman of Khurma union, said Arifuzzaman, UNO of Chhatak upazila.
“Their dealerships were cancelled after the locals arranged a rally protesting the anomaly. Actions will be taken against them after a probe,” he said.
Earlier on October 11, another dealer was arrested after stockpiling the government allotted rice and selling lower quality ones to the poor at South Surma upazila in Sylhet.
The administration also seized 3,410kg of low-quality rice from his store, and sent him to jail, said police sources.
Meanwhile, tea labours of tea estates' in Sylhet on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the district administration demanding their inclusion in the list of the ultra-poor.
Though the tea labourers are being deprived of all facilities for years they have not been included in the list, they added.
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