Bribery for relief alleged

Each of 100 flood hit families in Mahiskhocha union of Aditmari upazila allegedly paid Tk 1000 in bribe for getting relief given by Bangladesh Red Crescent Society on August 20.

Some 18 out of 100 beneficiaries submitted written complaints to the village court in this regard on Monday.

The alleged bribe receiver and the victims will be summoned to the court soon, said Mosaddeque Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of the union parishad.

They alleged that one Alamgir Hossain, son of Osman Gony, visited their houses and collected Tk 1000 from each, promising them to give relief goods of Tk 5 thousand. He gave relief token of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society after receiving the bribe money a week ago, they alleged.

But they got Tk 1500 and hygienic materials of Tk 120 only on August 20, added the victims.

Sazida Bewa, 62, of Balapara village, said she collected the relief token of the society after giving Tk 1,000 in bribe to Alamgir.

Refuting the allegation, Alamgir, however, said following the Red Crescent Society's direction, he prepared the list of beneficiaries for the relief programme.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in Lalmonirhat Ashraf Hossain Badal said they are not responsible for Alamgir Hossain as he is not member of the society.

If Alamgir is found guilty by the village court, they would take action against him for taking money from the beneficiaries in the name of the society, he added.