Rotting relief material: Singair UNO served show-cause

Manikganj's Singair Upazila Nirbahi Officer Runa Laila has been served a show-cause notice as relief kept at the godown of UNO office were found rotten.

Deputy Commissioner SM Ferdaus yesterday issued the notice asking her to reply by today (Sunday), our Manikganj correspondent reports, quoting sources.

The action was taken following some reports published in media on June 10.

The UNO kept 100 bags of rice (as relief) at a storage in a garage and rice of 90 bags were found rotten, according to intelligence agency.

Potatoes and onions were already rotten and lentils were rotting away. There was also allegation that poor people were not getting food assistance though they called the 333 number.

The relief were bought under Tk 100,000 allocated for Singair upazila on May 3. Each bag contains 10 kg rice, two kg lentils, five kg potatoes, two kg onions, one kg salt, one kg sugar and two packets of semai.

Only 10 bags were distributed among the people before Eid-ul-Fitr.

When contacted, UNO Runa Laila said she has not received the notice yet. She said she has distributed the relief as per instruction of the administration. There was no negligence on her part in this connection, she added.

DC Ferdaus said that action would be taken after receiving a report from the UNO.