BNP Misappropriates Eid Rice for 500 Destitute People in Nowhata Municipality

Local Correspondent

BNP leaders and activists have allegedly misappropriated rice allocated for 500 underprivileged individuals under the VGF program in Nowhata Municipality, according to allegations made by another faction within the BNP itself. The municipality administrator assigned the distribution responsibility to a section of the BNP instead of elected representatives, which led to clashes between the two groups.

Sources from Nowhata Municipality stated that for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, 10 kilograms of rice were allocated for 4,621 people in the municipality. A list obtained from a municipal official shows that 608 allocations were retained by the municipality for distribution, while 845 cards were assigned to Jamaat-e-Islami, 2,831 to the municipal BNP, and 337 to students. However, the municipal BNP also took the student cards, making a total of 3,168 cards under their responsibility.

On Tuesday (March 25), residents of Ward 1 listed under VGF alleged that although cards were distributed in their names, no rice was given. They were told the rice for those cards had already been distributed the previous day. Underprivileged residents expressed their anger, claiming that rice for approximately 500 individuals had been misappropriated.

Kamal Ali, a resident of Baghata neighborhood, said, “My father, Shamsul Islam, received a card on Monday night at 9 PM. Now, when we came to collect the rice, they said it had already been distributed on Monday before noon. I have no idea who took it.”

Ebadat Ullah Sarkar, a resident of Mahanandakhali neighborhood, said, “I’ve been roaming around since Monday. BNP leaders have sold off my rice. You (journalists) find my rice and get it back for me. I’m a poor man; why would my rice be stolen and sold off?”

Meanwhile, noticing that many were not receiving rice, Zainal Abedin, former joint convener of the municipal BNP, and his followers accused the rice of being misappropriated. Zainal specifically accused BNP worker Roxy, who was in charge of distribution on behalf of BNP Municipal President Rafiqul Islam Rafiq.

During this time, a clash broke out between the two factions, and Roxy was reportedly beaten. He later sought treatment at a local private hospital.

Zainal Abedin stated, “Roxy was assigned by President Rafiqul Islam Rafiq to distribute the rice. He misappropriated rice for 500 to 600 people in Ward 1. Those people have not received any rice. Roxy sold it off.”

Zainal presented a handwritten statement allegedly signed by Roxy, which read, “I was in charge of distributing VGF rice. Due to my mistake, there were irregularities in distributing rice in Ward 1. I accept full responsibility and, after being confronted and injured by residents, I pledge to ensure all rice distribution for Ward 1. I am making this acknowledgment at Habib Bhai’s office in the municipality.” The statement also contained the signatures of two female witnesses.

When contacted, Municipal BNP President Rafiqul Islam Rafiq said, “The municipality sought our cooperation. We were given 3,168 cards. However, I had submitted a list of 3,200 names. The municipality objected, saying the list exceeded the allocation by 32 names. I suggested that the extra rice could be adjusted from the municipality’s retained 608 cards or by slightly reducing allocations across all wards, but this was not done. Consequently, these 32 people did not receive rice. The allegations of misappropriation are false. I will personally purchase rice for these 32 individuals.”

Nowhata Municipality Administrator and Paba Upazila Executive Officer Arafat Aman Aziz denied the allegations, stating, “No distribution cards were issued to BNP. However, BNP’s assistance was sought to identify underprivileged individuals in the area. There has been no misappropriation of rice.”