‘Not even a plate of rice this Eid’
Kurigram flood victims yet to receive VGF ration
Rokeya Bewa (56), a flood victim from Hatia union of Kurigram's Ulipur upazila, waited for the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) rice on Eid day. However, she did not get it and had to borrow half a kilo of rice to cook a meal.
Moksed Ali (62), another flood victim from Begumganj union, had to spend the Eid day without any rice being cooked in his house as he also did not get the VGF rice allotted before Eid.
Most of the flood victims in Ulipur are yet to receive their share of flood rations even though 863 tonnes of VGF rice was allotted for 86,315 poor families on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Local representatives alleged that the allotted rice was not delivered in time due to irregularities and the corruption of warehouse officials.
"We got the VGF rice supply on Saturday afternoon, the day before Eid. A few VGF cardholders were able to get the rice but we could not distribute rice among most of the beneficiaries. I will distribute rice among all of them on Wednesday," said Hatia Union Parishad Chair Shayekhul Islam.
Chairmen of Dhamshreni and Begumganj Union Parishads Rafiqul Islam and Bablu Mia echoed the same.
"The rice stored in Ulipur food warehouse was damaged, hence we could not distribute it. Later, rice was supplied from the district headquarters' warehouse before Eid," said Rafiqul Islam.
"The delay occurred due to the corruption of food warehouse officials," he alleged.
Ulipur Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Siraj Uddoula said the VGF rice was allotted five days before Eid.
"It was not possible to distribute the rice in some unions in time following some problems in the warehouse," said the PIO.
Ulipur food warehouse officer Shahinur Rahman declined to make any comments regarding the issue when this correspondent contacted him.
"Since Ulipur food warehouse had a rice shortage, we supplied rice from the district headquarters warehouse and the entire allocation was supplied Saturday afternoon, a day before Eid,' said Kurigram district food controller Abu Bakkar.
He also said the allegations against the food warehouse officer are being investigated.