THE police on Thursday seized 1,500 kilograms of rice of Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme meant for free distribution to the poor and arrested four persons who were taking the rice to sell it in the open market in Magura and Barishal. It is nothing new and not the first or single incident of selling VGF rice in the black market. A huge quantity of VGF rice was also seized from businessmen’s godowns in Kurigram and Gaibandha on Wednesday. In Barishal, 176 sacks of VGF rice were seized from the residence of a village police personnel.
We know, there are a lot of allegations against the local government bodies for misappropriating government funds, swallowing budgets meant to feed the poor, demanding bribes for distributing relief materials, and selling rice and wheat in open markets. It’s a common practice of local government officials for decades. Different state-sponsored projects such as TR (Test Relief), KaBiKha (Kajer Binimoye Khaddyo), VGF and others are implemented by the local government bodies. That means, the Upazila Parishad and Union Parishad are the main instruments of the central government to execute its plan-programmes.
But in most cases, Union Parishads do not work properly. The government allocated rice and wheat meant for the poor go to the local traders’ godowns. Especially, misappropriation of VGF rice has become a common phenomenon in the recent days. Not only that, they also do not pay the proposed amount of money to the poor fixed by the government after any disaster.
The government had allotted the rice for ultra poor people under VGF programme to maintain their daily needs during Ramzan and subsequent Eid-ul Fitr. But the rice was not distributed properly. Particularly, the officials of Union Parishads were allegedly involved in this misappropriation. They have committed the misdeed with the help of local businessmen. It’s an open secret that, most of the Union Parishad men are linked with the ruling party and for this reason they could escape legal action easily.
We must say, the ill practice to gulp the poor people’s food cannot continue for an uncertain period. It should be stopped. Government must ensure exemplary punishment to those who are involved in this unlawful practice.