A union parishad member in Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua Upazila was sued on allegation of embezzling 15 tonnes of relief rice meant for the people affected by the nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Aminul Islam filed the case with the local police station against Jahedul Islam, chairman of Toytong Union Parishad, on Tuesday night. Pekua Police Station Officer-In-Charge Kamrul Azam confirmed the matter.
According to the case statement, local administration allocated 15 tonne of rice in favour of Toytong UP chairman Jahedul on March 31 to distribute among the poor amid the coronavirus outbreak. On April 6, the chairman removed the rice from the local warehouse and reported nothing to the authorities.
According to locals, Jahedul sold the rice at a cheap rate to a local trader in Chakoria. Meanwhile, the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry suspended the chairman for irregularities in distributing relief goods.
A notification was issued by the ministry on Wednesday in this regard, Ashraful Anbsar, additional deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar.
It said that the UP chairman was suspended temporarily for embezzling rice allocated under the government’s food-friendly programme to combat the crisis triggered by Covid-19 and rice of VGD programme.
Showcase notices was served on him asking to send his replies to the Local Government Division through respective deputy commissioners (DCs) within 10 working days from the date of receiving notices, explaining why he should not be removed permanently from his post.
Since the allegation surfaced, Jahedul went on hiding. Police were hunting for the UP chairman, Pekua Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saika Shahadat said
