Habiluddin, Bagha (Rajshahi)

Kishore Ibrahim Ali of Maliandah village of Pakuria UP in Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi. Studied in ninth grade in a local school. There was a small burn mark on the right side of the stomach.

Living a completely healthy and normal life. But he is disabled in the list of Social Services Department. So getting government allowance regularly. Manwara Begum of this village fell from a van in an accident a year ago and injured a finger on her right hand. He is now a disability pensioner.

Babita Begum of Jotkadirpur village of the same union has a disability card. It was found that all of them are living a healthy and normal life. In the investigation, it was found out that they have dressed the disabled with the magic wand of Sanwar Hossain, the upazila social service officer.

Sanwar Hossain joined Bagha Upazila Social Service Officer (Additional District Duty) on October 12 last year. Before him, Abdul Hannan, Nafiz Sharif and Rasheduzzaman were in that position. More than 700 fake disability cards have been sold from this office by forging (scanning) their signatures in three installments. Sanwar Hossain worked behind the scenes as the mastermind of this syndicate.

1. Helpless public representatives fell into the trap

2. Forged signatures of previous officials

3. Fancy business of selling fake cards

A local Riyad Jan Mubarak was tricked into selling cards by posing as his personal assistant. In exchange for money, most of the healthy and normal people have been dressed as disabled people. 712 such disabled cards were obtained through search. These cards are issued in 2021, 2022 and 2023. These cards bear the signature of the officer concerned when he was in charge.

However, the investigation revealed that these disabled cards were issued on different dates but were distributed during the current officer Sanwar Hossain's time. After August 5, Sanwar is trying to transfer secretly from Bagha. Sensing the matter, his alleged APS Riyad Mubarak exposed all the charisma of Sanwar. Riyad was first sent as a 'trap' as a 'goodwill ambassador' to issue disability cards to the representatives of various unions and municipalities in Bagha. He used to discuss with the chairman, members and councilors of various municipalities and unions about giving disabled cards to the poor and helpless in the respective areas in exchange for money. He used to bring necessary documents, photos and 'bribe money' to this official.

They used to give 'fake' disability cards for a minimum of 1500 to 5000 taka. In exchange of money, 40 in Pakuria Union, 20 in 3 Moneygram Union, 130 in Arani Union, 160 in Arani Municipal Area, 152 in Gargari Union, 40 in Bajubagha Union, 10 in Chakrajapur Union and 160 in Bagha Municipal Area have been found. In all, 712 people have been cheated with these 14 disabled cards.

Monoara Begum of Maliandah village in Pakuria Union said that she had injured her right hand finger in an accident a year ago. By showing this, he got a physically challenged card for 3000 rupees.

Already received disability allowance of 7 thousand taka. A person named Amirul Islam from Maliandah area expressed his anger and said, 'There are many sick and disabled people in my area, but they have not received cards. But many healthy and able-bodied people have got disabled card through bribery. How are these!'

Hajera Begum, the former woman councilor of Bagha municipality, said, 'Last year, I got 50 cards from Sanwar sir. All are good people. not disabled I paid three thousand rupees for this. Sir does not take money in the office. I paid money to eat here. Riyad was also with Sir at that time. It is known that last year from July 31 to October 12, Bagha Social Service office was Md. Rasheeduzzaman. Charghat Social Service Officer after transfer. His disability card was also forged.

When asked about this, he said, 'Everything is entered online. I was in charge there (at Bagha) for only 3 and a half months. There are documents for the cards that I did this time. Apart from these, if someone has forged my signature card, then they are without a doubt.

fake.' Riyad Mubarak, who introduced Sanwar Hossain's APS, said, "Basically, I used to talk to representatives of various unions and municipalities and bring money and documents to Sir." Sir, if the cards were made, I would have delivered them to them. In return, sir used to pay me three thousand rupees monthly. Later he used to pay 6 thousand taka, after that 9 thousand and lastly 11 thousand taka. Apart from this he used to pay me 50 taka per form.

Bagha Upazila Social Service Officer directly denied all allegations. Sanwar Hossain said, 'I don't know how these cards were made. Recently many people are coming to my office to verify online, but the cards are not getting entry in the server. It means fake. No one can say that I gave such a card to someone in exchange of money'.

Sources of Bagha Upazila Social Services Office said that a total of around 5.5 million taka has been given in four installments in the financial year 2022-23. In that fiscal year, the number of disabled persons receiving government allowances was 5 thousand 339.

However, in the fiscal year 2023-24, the number of disabled people increased to 6,680. In this financial year, about 7 crores of disability allowance was deducted.