An allegation has been raised against a group – the brother-in-law of a female member of Bhogdanga union parishad in Kurigram Sadar upazila being its leader – that it collected rice allocated for the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) program by making fake cards.
Locals claimed that Saidur Rahman, 35, brother-in-law of UP Member Rosna Begum, is the mastermind. He is a resident of Kaim Baraibari village in ward 5 of the union.
UP Chairman Saidur Rahman and local residents also backed the allegation.
The matter came to light last Thursday after an associate of Saidur was detained in connection with card fraud.
However, as the accomplice was a minor, he was released to the custody of his father.
A source at the union parishad said VGF rice has been distributed, but about 200 registered beneficiaries have not received their rice.
The group in question collected VGF rice by producing fake cards. Already, more than 150 fake cards have been issued, with which rice has been collected.
UP Chairman Saidur Rahman said that rice was being distributed under the VGF program on the occasion of Eid. This rice was distributed among 12,115 beneficiaries in the union. Among them, a teenager was arrested while collecting rice with a fake card during the distribution last Thursday.
Besides, 21 fake cards were recovered from his possession. During interrogation, he admitted to card fraud.
The minor said Saidur is behind this fraudulence.
Later the matter was reported to the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO).
The chairman said: “Many registered beneficiaries did not receive rice after the distribution of VGF rice last year. Later I saw to their needs with my own money. I did not understand this fraud then. Now after detaining the boy, I understand that this gang was behind it. The detained minor also confessed.”
Saidur has been in hiding since the incident, he added.
"After this incident, we checked the collected cards and found more than 100 fake cards. Further verification is underway. Last year there was a shortage of several tons of rice, which was collected by Saidur with a fake card. The female UP member did not inform me even after knowing the matter.”
Regarding the involvement of UP Member Rosna Begum, the chairman said: "She is not involved. Their families are also different. However, she said that she requested his brother-in-law not to do this after learning about the matter last year. If I had been informed then, this would not have been repeated this year.”
Efforts are on to find Saidur. Legal action will be taken against him, added the chairman.
Rosna Begum could not be contacted for comment over the phone.
UNO Rasedul Hasan said: "The chairman has been asked to find those involved in the fraud and take legal action against them. Effective measures will be taken by discussing with the chairmen so that card fraud does not happen in the future.”
