Allegations have been raised against the Khulna District Food Office over the supply of old and substandard sacks under the guise of new ones during the ongoing foodgrain procurement drive.
According to sources, used sacks were allegedly purchased at lower market prices and supplied along with new ones, leading to irregularities in the use of government funds. Concerns have also been raised over the suitability and longevity of such sacks for safe foodgrain storage.
Food department officials said that some old sacks were supplied by the contractor along with new ones, but claimed the issue was addressed after detection, with around 8,000 sacks replaced.
Sources said tenders were invited for the procurement of new sacks for the Khulna Food Department, which were initially delivered to the Maheshwapasha food warehouse before being distributed to different storage facilities in the district.
Supplies included 50,000 sacks of 50-kg capacity and 10,000 sacks of 30-kg capacity at Alaipur food warehouse in Rupsha upazila, 30,000 sacks of 50-kg and 10,000 sacks of 30-kg at Terokhada food warehouse, 50,000 sacks of 50-kg and 20,000 sacks of 30-kg at Dumuria food warehouse, and 50,000 sacks of 50-kg and 20,000 sacks of 30-kg at Phultala food warehouse.
In addition, at Mongla Silo and Mongla Port, 25,000 sacks of 50-kg and 10,000 sacks of 30-kg capacity were reportedly returned after being found unsuitable for foodgrain packaging.
Video footage circulating on social media allegedly shows government slogans removed from the sacks using tar, while the production year “2022” is visible on them, indicating prior use.
The tender process was completed around three months ago during the tenure of the current District Controller of Food (DCF). The tender committee was headed by Phultala PCF Zakir Hossain, who was also serving as Additional Assistant District Food Controller at the time. The work order was awarded to Messrs Chandradwip Construction.
Khulna Unnayan Sangram Samannoy Committee President Khalid Hossain alleged that corruption amounting to several crores of taka occurred through the procurement of old sacks in the name of purchasing 200,000 new ones. He said that the government price of a new 30-kg sack is Tk 50 per piece, compared to Tk 18–Tk 20 for old sacks, while new 50-kg sacks cost Tk 90 per piece against Tk 38–Tk 40 for used ones.
Maheshwapasha food warehouse manager TCF Mosharraf Hossain said that 200,000 sacks were received recently and that it was not feasible to inspect all of them individually. “Usually, 10–15 percent are checked. Contract terms require suppliers to replace defective sacks,” he said, adding that 8,000 old sacks were detected among a consignment sent to Terokhada and were later replaced.
Khulna District Food Officer Tanvir Hossain said that some old sacks were found at Terokhada and were replaced after the supplier was notified. “Such problems can occur, and they are resolved as per contract conditions,” he said.