A Union Parishad (UP) member has been accused of embezzling almost Tk6 Lakh from poor people of the area in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj.
The accused, Md Hannan Shikdar, is member of Ward 9 in Fukra union of the upazila.
A written complaint was submitted to the Kashiani UNO on behalf of 22 families of Fukra union on Thursday.
According to the complaint, Hannan took money from families promising them VGD cards, widow allowances, old age allowances, government housing, and deep tubewells. But none of the families received anything from Hannan.
The aggrieved families have also accused Hannan of threatening them when they asked for their money back.
Residents of Saflidanga village in Ward 9, Md Kaiyum Fakir, Md Mokbul Hossain, Hena Begum, Marzina Begum, Mohammad Ali, Mrittunjoy Bala, Monika Bala, and Khokon Mollah say Hannan took money from them promising various benefits but didn't follow through on his words.
Md Hannan Shikdar denied the allegations against him and said: "I have given Tk81,000 to an office for the government housing project. That money is lost now. Other than that, I will return the money that I have taken for VGD cards, widow allowances, old age allowances, and deep tubewells."
Kashiani Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sabbir Ahmed said: "I have called the accused UP member Md Hannan Shikdar and those families for a hearing on 18 December in my office. I will take action after the hearing."
