11 more public representatives suspended over relief irregularities

The government today suspended 11 more union parishad public representatives over various allegations including misappropriation of relief items for people who were hit hard by the economic fallout during the Covid-19-induced closure.

Today's suspensions take the number of public representatives suspended over such irregularities during the coronavirus outbreak to 100.

Among the suspended, 30 are UP chairmen, 64 are UP members, four municipal councillors, one district council member and one upazila vice-chairman.

The Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) ministry today suspended one UP chairman and 10 union council members on different charges including ones involving the prime minister's mobile banking cash assistance programme, embezzlement of rice allotted to the poorest people, and irregularities in preparing lists of beneficiaries through nepotism, the ministry said in a press release.

Separate notifications were issued today from the ministry in this regard.

The suspended persons are: Md Alam Mia, chairman of Mehari Union Parishad under Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria; Farida Begum, member (reserved seats for ward 4, 5 and 6) of Budhal union parishad of Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila; Monirul Islam and Abul Kalam, member of ward no 6 and ward no 8 respectively of Kolardonia UP under Najirpur upazila in Pirojpur; Kanchon Mia, member (ward no 5 and 8) of Nohata Union, Mohammadpur upazila of Magura; Mofijul Islam, member (ward no 3 and 4) of Kumargata Union, Muktagacha upazila of Mymensingh; Rois Uddin, member (ward no 8) of Rajibpur Union, Iswarganj upazila of Mymensingh; Parvin Akhter, member of reserved seat (ward no 4, 5 and 6), Bombu Union, Joypurhat Sadar upazila; Lokman Hossain, member (ward no 2) and Muslema Begum, member of reserved seats (ward no 7, 8, 9), Gomastapur Union Parishad, Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj; and Md Iqbal, member (ward no 4 and 6) Charking Union, Hatia upazila of Noakhali.

In line with the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009, the local government department temporarily sacked them from their posts for committing criminal activities, the release also said.

The suspended public representatives were asked to send their replies through deputy commissioners within 10 working days as to why they will not be removed permanently from their posts, the release added.