Wheat procurement in Rajshahi under control of a syndicate?

RAJSHAHI, June 15: The wheat procurement programme by the government is going on throughout Rajshahi district. Though the procurement activities was supposed to assist the wheat farmers as well as increasing the storage of wheat, it is not being followed in Rajshahi.
It is alleged, the wheat procurement drive in the district is being controlled by a strong syndicate consisting of middlemen, political leaders and local influentials and the officer incharge of the LSD. On the other hand, wheat procurement activities remained suspended in several upazilas due to rivalry between the same political groups.
According to a source of office of controller of food in Rajshahi, this year 9,042 metric tonnes of wheat will be procured in Rajshahi district. The procurement drive has been started from April 22. He further informed, the food controller office will procure wheat direct from the farmers at Tk 28 per kilogramme and will be supplied to 11 local depots. This activity will continue till June 30.
Though the procurement of wheat started in a festive manner, now the activities has almost been stopped. Persons concerned with the drive claimed, the activity of wheat procurement has been stopped because of bad weather. But, informed sources said, the wheat procurement drive has actually been stopped due to rivalry between local ruling party leaders.
It is also alleged that the ruling party leaders were realising Tk 2.00 commission in the name of the political party from the wheat farmers to supply wheat to the LSDs . Middlemen and local powerful people were also supplying wheat by posing as farmers, OCs of LSDs are also allegedly involved  in this collusion.
Mojammel Haque, Shofiqur Rahman and Abul Kalam, farmers of Puthia said, wheat is being sold at Tk 20.75 per kg in the open market now.  If those wheat were stored in the food storage, they would get Tk 7.25 more per kg.
When they went to Puthia LSD to sell (supply) wheat, they were refused on account of excess humidity in wheat. Those farmers also complained, the officers of food storages in collusion with local Awami league leaders were allegedly involved in purchasing wheat from persons who are not real farmers.
A source of Puthia Upazila Awami League informed, wheat to the LSDs was being supplied according to shares among the groups of Puthia.  
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