Various irregularities against female UP member in Manikchhari alleged
Alamgir Hossain, Manikchhari
(Khagrachari)
(Khagrachari)
Allegations of irregularities and nepotism in rice distribution to the poor, including construction of unnecessary culverts, embezzlement of lakhs of taka in the name of mosque and road organization development, bribery in the name of issuing VWB (VGD) cards, have been raised against Kohinur Begum, a female member of Wards 7, 8 and 9 of Batnatli Union No. 2 of Manikchhari Upazila of Khagrachari.
Locals said that female member Kohinur Begum got involved in these irregularities due to the absence of male members of three wards in the Union Parishad after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2012.
Investigations showed that under the Rural Infrastructure Maintenance (TR) program, she allocated 1 lakh 6 thousand taka for the supply and development of carpets in the Bancharampara (Shankholapara) Jame Mosque of the union. This development work worth lakhs of taka was completed by installing 3 low-quality carpets, a small fence and a small piece of colored tin on the small mosque made of tin. When asked, the president of the mosque management committee, Md. Lokman Hossain, said, "The female member Kohinur did not even do the work of 30 thousand taka with the allocation in the name of the mosque. She did not tell us anything about the amount of allocation."
Under the Rural Infrastructure Maintenance (KABITA) program, an allocation of 2 lakh 15 thousand taka was allocated for the road repair and sealing from the Masterghata Bridge of the union to the Bancharampara Mosque. However, the work of this program is being carried out by dumping some old low-quality brick pieces and soil in the potholes of that road. No sight of sealing was seen. In addition, a culvert has been built unnecessarily in the middle of the unpaved road from Dhakaiya camp to the east with an allocation of lakhs of taka next to an illegal coal stove. That culvert, which was built using low-quality construction materials, collapsed three days after its construction.
Several local people, on condition of anonymity, said, 'Kohinur member unnecessarily built this culvert to grab government money. He became reckless after the fall of the Hasina government. Even when he went to get a certificate, ordinary people had to be harassed.'
The investigation further revealed that Kohinur Begum accepted a bribe of 5,000 taka from several people, including local Nazrul Islam, in the name of issuing government VWB (VGD) cards. None of them received this government benefit. In addition, female UP member Kohinur Begum committed widespread irregularities and nepotism in the listing and distribution of slips for the distribution of 10 kg of rice of VGF received from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief among the extremely poor, helpless and distressed.
Disabled Humayun Kabir lamented, 'I don't have two legs, I run my family by begging. But I have never received VGD, VGF or any other benefit.' Local Akbar Ali said, 'The female member is now in charge, she has many demands. That's why her relatives are getting the benefits. The poor people have no price'.
Local senior political figure Md. Nuruzzaman Master said on this issue, 'I have received information and complaints about several irregularities of female member Kohinur Begum. I have spoken to that female member several times, her behavior is very indecent. The Union Parishad is legitimizing all her corruption'. He urged the administration to take necessary steps in this regard subject to a prompt investigation.
Claiming that these allegations are false and conspiratorial, female UP member Kohinur Begum said, 'I have not received any work in the last 3 years during the Awami League government. I have been deprived. Recently, when I got some work, local BNP party members are conspiring against me. They are opposing me like this because I have not given them a work partner.' In response to another question, he said, "It is not possible to list all the VGF beneficiaries by going door to door, as the village police took the list, ten people in one family have received the benefits. In the future, the matter will be looked into with more awareness."
In this regard, Union BNP President Md. Belal Hossain said, "No discussion has taken place with female member Kohinur Begum or anyone from the local BNP regarding any work. If she has said so, then she has lied. But she knows very well why she lied."
Regarding the irregularities in mosque development and road renovation under TR and Kabita programs, Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Kazi Masudur Rahman said, "Half portion of the bills for both works have been paid. Necessary steps will be taken after verifying the quality of the work."
