Bagerhat Correspondent :
All the 53 dealers appointed in Morrelganj Upazila in Bagerhat district to sell rice at Tk.1.00 per kg are the leaders or workers of the party in power or its front organizations and relatives of the UP Chairmen, it is alleged.
There is a circular that no people’s representative is eligible to be appointed the rice dealer. But most of the UP Chairmen of the Upazila tactfully managed to bag the dealership in favour of their relatives or leaders and workers of the ruling political party and its front organizations (Chatra League, Jubo League etc.). Even both government and non-government service holders are also included in the list of rice dealers.
The circular should be widely publicized in order to select genuine and qualified dealers. But that was not followed properly in maximum cases. So, in many cases the relatives of the chairmen and leaders and workers of the ruling political party and its front organizations were appointed rice dealers. On the other hand, there are many allegations against those rice dealers. But no card holder dare complain against the rice dealers.
One Tanvir Ahmed was appointed rice dealer of Gulishakhali bazar within Nishanbaria union under Morrelganj Upazila. But he is the son of Abdur Rahim Baschu, Chairman of the union and General Secretary of Nishanbaria Union Awami League. It is alleged that the dealer is selling the rice (at Tk.10.00 per kg) in the Union Parishad office complex. Kamrul Islam is another rice dealer of the same Union Parishad. This Kamrul Islam is a college employee and joint secretary of Nishsanbaria Union Awami League. Delwar Ferdous Hossain Pias who is another rice dealer of the union is a Chhatra League leader.
Aktaruzzaman Majumdar and Kamrul Islam were appointed dealers of Panchakaran Union (under the Upaziala) and both of them are nephews (one- brother’s son and the other is sister’s son) of the UP Chairman Abdur Razzak Majumdar.
Zakir-al-Mamun and Jamal Fakir were appointed dealers in Khawlika Union and they are nephew (brother’s son) and brother-in-law (husband of the sister of the wife) of UP Chairman Abul Khair respectively.
Tajul Islam, dealer of Daibanjahati Union Parishad is a nephew of a people’s representative.
Riazul Islam is a dealer of Chingrakhali Union Parishad under the Upazila. He is an employee of a Govt. Primary School and nephew (sister’s son) of a powerful people’s representative.
Similarly those who are appointed dealers of other Union Parishads of the Upazila are also the relatives of the UP Chairmen or leaders and workers of the political party in power and its front organizations.
There are allegations against those rice dealers that rice is sold by them is found short in weight. Dealership of Asaduzzaman of Chingrakhali UP was cancelled on the charge selling rice short in weight.
It is reported that a team of Anti-Corruption Commission visited the various places of Morrelganj Upazila recently. After that the tendency of selling rice short in weight was changed a bit, according to the opinions of card holders.
It is mandatory that each dealer should have a fixed place for selling rice and there should be a signboard. It is also mandatory that the selling centre should be opened on Friday, Saturday and Wednesday in a week. But the dealers are indifferent to abide by the Govt. circulars.
There are fixed shops for selling rice at Tk.10.00 per kg in Jewdhara, Sundarban, Tetulbaria, Baraikhali etc places under the Upazila. But there is no signboard there. There was also found no sign of signboard and selling center in Gulishakhali bazar while some newsmen visited the area. There is also found no rice selling shop or center at Amtali bazar under Khawlia Union Parishad. It is allegedly reported that the rice is being sold at Tk.10.00 per kg there in the local Awami League office. There is a signboard by the side of a road in Pallimangol bazar. But there is no shop of the dealer air marked for selling rice. There was found no shop of dealer in many places of the Upazila. In some cases there are found shops but there is no signboard.
When the matter was brought to the notice of Muhammad Obaidur Rhaman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Morrelganj by the newsmen he told that it was not possible to visit all the rice selling centers. He added that necessary steps would be taken if allegations are found.
