Disability fund swindled

A staggering half of the money allocated for 26 people with disabilities has been pocketed by union parishad (UP) members in Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon.

The matter came to the fore after Md Abu Raihan of Sohasa village under Badalgachhi union of the upazila, father of a disabled person, filed a complaint to the Department of Social Welfare office in the upazila on Sunday.

Under the updated list prepared in 2016-17 fiscal year, 30 people with disabilities in Badalgachhi union are entitled to get Tk 1800 each every year, according to the social welfare office.

Of them, 26 people get their allowance money from the UP members while the four others are attached directly with the local social welfare office.

"The UP members concerned gave Tk 900 to each of 26 disabled people instead of Tk 1800 and pocketed the remaining half while the four people attached with local social welfare office got Tk 1800 each," Abu Raihan mentioned in the complaint.

"The UP members of nine wards recently tricked 26 disabled people into handing over the cards and drew the money from Sonali Bank. But they distributed only half of the money," he added.

Abdus Salam, chairman of Badalgachhi UP, said he heard about the misappropriation and measures will be taken against the members concerned after a written complaint is lodged.

Asked about the misappropriation, a UP member said it was a 'mistake'.

Tariqul Islam, an official of Badalgachhi social welfare office, said they found authenticity of the allegation of the misappropriation of the disabled people's allowances.

"The office is investigating the incident. Some UP members have returned the embezzled money," he said.

Md Mizanur Rahman, manager of Sonali Bank Ltd of Badalgachhi Branch, said the said UP members collected the money from the bank last week, saying that the disabled people were ill.