The government has stepped up its efforts to fight against misappropriation of relief materials allocated for the poorer segment during the coronavirus pandemic, an official said.
As part of the move, the ministry of local government, rural development and co-operatives has requested all bodies concerned including police to gear up efforts to check misappropriation of relief materials by union parishad (council) chairmen and members.
"We have asked all officials concerned including police at district and upazila levels to gear up their efforts to check misappropriation of relief materials allocated for the needy and distressed people," LGRD & Co-operatives minister Md Tajul Islam told the FE on Monday.
He said the number of incidents of misappropriation of relief materials by elected representatives of local government bodies has reduced due to stern actions taken by the government against them (UP chairmen and members).
"This punishment will continue…. We will spare none (chairmen and members) if they are found involved with misappropriation of relief materials allocated for the poor people," he warned.
The LGRD & Co-operatives ministry started coming down heavily against the chairmen and members who are involved with such dishonest acts (embezzlement of relief foods) following the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Meanwhile, the ministry suspended more three chairmen and nine members of different union parishads for their alleged involvement in misappropriation of relief materials.
The ministry in a circular on Sunday suspended the chairmen and members of different UPs.
It took action against the chairmen and members under section 34 (1) of Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009.
The suspended chairmen are: Makhdum Kabir Tonmoy, Niamatpur UP in Karimganj upazila of Kishoreganj, Md Abdus Sattar, Arjunpur Baramhati UP under Lalpur upazila of Natore and Mirza Golam Hafiz Sohag, Majihotto UP under Shibganj upazila of Bogura.
The suspended UP members are: member of ward no. five ( 5) of Arjunpur Baramhati UP under Lalpur upazila of Natore Md Reza, member of ward no. six (6) of Kedurpur UP under Babuganj upazila of Barisal Md Jakir Hossain, member of ward no. eight (8) of Hajirhat UP under Monpura upazila of Bhola Md Abdur Rab Patwary, member of ward no. six (6) of Joynagar UP under Kalia upazil of Narail Sheikh Mosharref Hossan and reserved women member of ward no. three (3) of the same UP Roni Begum, member of ward no. nine (9) of Khaskaulia UP under Chouhali upazila of Sirajganj Md Rafiqul Islam, member of ward no. three (3) of Bagbati UP under sadar upazila of Sirajganj Md Al Amin Chowdhury and member of women reserved seat of ward no. seven, eight and nine (7,8 & 9) of the same UP Mosammat Ashia Khatun.
The LGRD &Co-operatives ministry has so far suspended a total of 24 UP chairmen and members, according to the ministry.
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