They feast on the poor’s rice!

The poor, who live from hand to mouth, are going through boundless difficulties, many of them starving, due to the shutdown across the country to curb Covid-19 outbreak as they cannot go out for work.

The government has taken many initiatives to help poor and low-income people. Relief materials have been distributed in many areas in the country.

However, many local government representatives and unscrupulous businessmen have allegedly embezzled relief in many places.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also talked about mobile court trials and tough punishment for relief embezzlers. Law enforcers have already started working against these anomalies.

Yet, relief embezzlement has not stopped.

The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives on Sunday temporarily suspended Kabir Hossain, chairman of Pirojpur union parishad in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj.

Confirming the matter, Sonargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saydul Islam said, "After receiving the complaint of relief embezzlement, the upazila administration investigated the incident. After the allegation proved true, the administration recommended to the local government ministry for temporary suspension of the union parishad chairman."

15-day imprisonment for embezzling 270kg rice in Dinajpur

A Dinajpur mobile court on Monday sentenced Sultan Mahmud, 45, to 15 days of imprisonment for misappropriating 270 kilogrammes of rice. He works under Motahar Hossain, rice dealer of the government food distribution programme in the district. 

Upazila food officer Mostafizur Rahman said, "Motahar Hossain's dealership has been cancelled. Besides, we will file a case against the dealer and others involved in the incident."

158 sacks of rice seized from Sramik League leader in Khagrachari

A mobile court in Khagrachari has seized 158 sacks of rice from the district's Matiranga upazila. The rice was seized on Sunday from the godown of Jamal Uddin, a Sramik League leader and member of Taindang union parishad. Jamal and his accomplices fled sensing the presence of the mobile court.

A case will be filed against those responsible for the incident, said Bibhishan Kanti Das, Matiranga upazila nirbahi officer.

Swechhasebak League leader in Manikganj detained over embezzling 2,270kg rice

The police on Sunday detained a dealer named Abu Bakar Siddique, also the general secretary of Dhalsna union parishad Swechhasebak League, for embezzling government rice in Manikganj's Singair upazila.

Upazila agriculture officer Nazimuddin has filed a case against him with Singair Police Station, said Officer-in-Charge of the police station Abdus Sattar, adding that "the case will be transferred to the Anti-Corruption Commission."

Fine over keeping 116 sacks of rice with animal feed

A mobile court in Satkhira, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Debashish Chowdhury, has fined a dealer Tk50,000 for keeping the rice in an unhealthy environment with animal feed.

Dealer Shafiur Rahman kept 5,800kg rice in 116 sacks with animal feed, which was supposed to be distributed.

Detained with TCB's 6,480-litre oil

The detective branch of police in Rangpur on Monday seized Trading Corporation of Bangladesh's 6,480 litres of oil hoarded in a godown in Robertsonganj of the district. The police have also detained Irfanul Hasan and Harun-ur-Rashid from the spot.

The police have filed a case against four persons including the two detainees, confirmed Rangpur Metropolitan Police Assistant Superintendent of Police Uzzal Proshad, adding that they were trying to arrest the others.

3 Awami League leaders removed from their posts in Bogura

Three Awami League leaders in Bogura have been released from their posts over allegedly hoarding and selling rice of the government food programme.

The leaders are Nandigram upazila Awami League General Secretary Anisur Rahman, Sariakandi upazila's Kutubpur union parishad Awami League Secretary and former union parishad chairman Gaziul Haque, and Shibganj upazila's Sayedpur union parishad Awami League Organising Secretary Saiful Islam Saju, confirmed Bogura district Awami League General Secretary Ragibul Ahsan Ripu.

The mobile court has sentenced Gaziul Haque to one month of simple imprisonment over illegally hoarding government rice, and RAB-12 has filed a case against others.