2,194 solvent men made to return special cards

Illegal recipients have returned to the authorities at least 2,194 special cards, meant for providing cheap rate rice for the ultra-poor people, in 21 unions under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila till Tuesday.

On September 7, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated “Food-Friendly Programme” in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram.

Under the programme, selected poor people who have the special cards would get 30 kg of rice a month from local ration dealers at Tk 10 per kg during September-November and March-April when work opportunities are thin for poor people.

The beneficiary ultra-poor families were supposed to be listed by the local public representatives. 

As in other areas, the cards were gradually distributed in all 21 unions of Thakugaon Sadar upazila. As many as 27,244 cards were distributed in the upazila.

But many solvent people of the area received cards, and the matter drew criticism from cross section of the society. 

A number of local influential people including ruling party activists started selling the rice, meant to be sold to the poor for Tk 10 per kg, to their well-off relatives or in the black market.

Some were even stockpiling the rice.

Against the backdrop, Thakurgaon Sadar upazila administration arranged announcement through megaphones, asking solvent recipients to submit their cards to local union parishad chairmen by Tuesday, or face stern action.

"The chairmen of the union parishads got the chance to make correction to the lists of beneficiaries under the programme meant for the poor. Accordingly, the cards were taken back from those who were not eligible," said Upazila Food Officer Hafiz Uddin.