UP chairman arrested, cases against 3 more

A union parishad (UP) chairman was arrested in Patuakhali and three other UP chairmen were sued in Rangpur in the last five days on charges of misappropriation and irregularities in distribution of rice under VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) programme.
Meanwhile, a man was arrested with 11 bags of VGF rice in Dimla upazila of Nilphamari yesterday morning.
Our Patuakhali correspondent reported that Abdul Quader Khan, chairman of Marishbunia Union Parishad under Sadar upazila, was arrested for irregularities in distribution of VGF rice among the poor people of the union on Sunday.
The UP chairman was distributing 6 kg of VGF rice per head instead of 10 kg on the premises of his office in the afternoon.
Being informed, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Nur Alam along with a police team went there. He stopped distribution of rice and arrested UP Chairman Quader on the spot.
Later, Quader was produced in a court that sent him to jail.
In Rangpur, three UP chairman in Mithapukur upazila were sued on Sunday for misappropriating VGF rice, according to our correspondent.
Md Moshfiqur Rahman, project implementation officer (PIO) of Mithapukur upazila, filed two cases against the chairmen.
In the case statement, he alleged that Abu Tayab Mondol, chairman of Balarhat UP, and Abdus Salam, chairman of Baro Hajratpur UP, lifted 30 tonnes of rice from government godown on August 14 and August 18 to distribute among the ultra poor under special VGF programme.
Both the chairman sold the rice to a rice mill owned by Robiul Islam Pramanik, chairman of Durgapur UP, the complainant said, adding that they purchased rotten rice in collusion with Robiul Islam to distribute among the poor people of their respective unions.
The project implementation officer (PIO) lodged two separate cases with Mithapukur Police Station against the three UP chairman on charges of misappropriated the allocated rice and buying rotten rice for the poor.
Our Nilphamari correspondent adds: One person was arrested and 11 bags of rice meant for distribution under VGF programme were seized from his possession in Dimla upazila yesterday morning.
Acting on a tip-off, Upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Abu Rafa Md Arif raided the house of one Azizul Islam at Babur Haat village and seized 11 sacks of government rice from a rickshaw van.
The UNO arrested Azizul Islam later handed him over to the police. Police said Aziz loaded 11 sacks of rice into the van to take them to a local market for sale.
A case was filed against Aziz with Dimla Police Station.
The arrestee, Azizul Islam, told newsmen that he purchased the rice provided under ration meant for cops of Dimla Police Station.
Denying the allegation of purchasing VGF rice, Aziz said he was loading 11 sacks of rice into a rickshaw van to take them to a local market for sale.