Rich people get rice meant for poor!

A number of affluent people in Jashore’s Narayanpur union have received rice under the vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme.

Besides, couple of recipients on the VGF list, had died years ago, locals alleged.

Rafikul Islam, one of the wealthy recipients, was shocked to receive the rice.

“I own a three-storied building and get rental income from the property. Why would I need VGF rice?” he asked, adding that he did not know his name was on the VGF list.

“VGF rice distribution was due before Eid-ul-Azha. When that did not happen, news about corruption broke out and the local representatives hurriedly distributed rice on August 25 based on the list,” he alleged.

Around 830 families in three villages of ward no 7 of Narayanpur union under Chougachha upazila received the rice.

Another recipient, Tuhinur Rahman Tuhin, ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Narayanpur union unit, said, “How can they include our name in the list? We do not qualify for VGF. We are not poor.”

“They are using our name to misappropriate the rice,” he alleged.

A similar allegation was raised by Mizanur Rahman, who owns a grocery shop in Narayanpur Bazar. He too received the rice.

“We do not know that our name is there in the list. They use our name to obtain the rice and use it for themselves,” he said, adding he did not receive any rice before.

Among the deceased recipients, whose name appear on the list are Mominur Rahman, who died six years ago, and Abdul Halim, who passed away two years back.

Their families claimed they received rice for the first time on last Sunday.

When contacted, Narayanpur Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Joynal Abedin expressed his apologies for distributing rice without verifying the names of the recipients in the VGF list.

He alleged that Rabeya Khatun, a female UP member from reserved seat, gave him the list.

The chairman requested this correspondent not to publish the news.

Rabeya refuted the chairman’s claim saying Asadul Islam, former UP member, who passed away in May this year, had prepared the list.

Yousuf Ali, the UP member, who replaced Asadul through a recent by-poll, echoed the same.

Chougachha’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jahidul Islam did not receive the phone calls though it rang several times.

Meanwhile, 50-year-old widow Hasina Khatun, who has two daughters, one aged three and another seven, did not receive any VGF rice.

“The millionaires and the solvents get the rice whereas we work as domestic help and struggle to feed our children. Our names do not appear on the VGF list,” Hasina lamented.

Another widow, Sajeda Khatun, 35, expressed similar sentiments. “I struggle to feed my two sons and send them to school by working as domestic help. But all we receive are empty promises from the chairman and members during election. Our names never make it to the list,” she said.