Kurigram, Sep 12 (V7N) - Allegations have surfaced regarding various irregularities in the issuance of cards and food distribution under the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) project in Chilmari, Kurigram. These include issuing cards in the names of UP members' wives, using fake names to issue cards, and collecting money from beneficiaries during food distribution. A written complaint has been submitted to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) regarding these issues.

The VWB project, run through the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, provides 30 kg of rice monthly to 3,223 extremely poor women in the upazila as part of a support initiative to help them become self-reliant. According to the rules, these women are brought under the project on a rotational basis every two years. For the 2023-24 cycle, the Department of Women’s Affairs issued a delivery order (DO) for distributing food for July and August. However, during the distribution of July’s rice last Monday, a card was presented by someone other than the designated beneficiary, and food was refused. In response to these irregularities, former UP member Lal Mia filed a written complaint with the UNO on Wednesday.

The complaint alleges that Abdur Razzak Milon, the general secretary of the Thana Union Awami League and chairman of the Thana Union Parishad, along with Ward 1 UP member Nur Alam and reserved member Monowara Begum, were involved in irregularities in selecting VWB beneficiaries. One such irregularity involves issuing a card in the name of Nur Alam's wife, Mosammat Baby Begum (NID-2820398804), who has been collecting food under the program. Another beneficiary, Mukta Akter (NID-7814470352), had a card issued in her name, but she was unaware of it. Likewise, Sadhana (ID-3270370186) is listed as a beneficiary but is unaware of this. Minara Begum (NID-3270101557), a housewife from Ulipur Upazila's municipal area, was also issued a card. Another woman, Shapla Rani (NID-5503323494), had a card issued without her knowledge. Additionally, Aminia Begum (NID-2821250491), a housewife from Dhamshreni Union in Ulipur Upazila, and Morzina Begum (NID-3257955660) from Raniganj Union were both issued cards, despite not residing in the area. Arefa Khatun (NID-7814447863) also had food collected using her card, despite being a resident of Gunai Gach Union in Ulipur Upazila.

When asked, Baby Begum, wife of Ward 1 UP member Nur Alam, said she was unaware of whether a card had been issued in her name, adding that her husband would know. When contacted, the person who answered Sadhana’s number (ID-3270370186) was a woman named Purnima Rani, who stated that since her name had been listed in the previous cycle, a card was issued this time using her sister-in-law Sadhana's ID. Similarly, the person answering the phone for Shapla Rani (NID-5503323494) said they did not know her. Mosammat Aminia Begum (NID-2821250491) admitted that she lives in Dhamshreni and that her mother had sold the card issued in her name to a local dealer.

In another incident, it has been reported that beneficiaries in Nayarhat Union were charged money during the distribution of VWB rice. A video from last Sunday’s distribution shows UP member of Ward 7, Iman Ali, and the council’s assistant accountant, Md. Nurunnabi, collecting BDT 50 from each beneficiary during food distribution.

UP member Iman Ali admitted to collecting BDT 50 from some beneficiaries, claiming it was in line with previous practices, but stated that the money had been refunded. Md. Nurunnabi, the assistant accountant and computer operator of Nayarhat UP, confirmed that money was collected from five people but the practice was stopped after objections, and the money was returned.

Nayarhat UP chairman and local Awami League leader Md. Asaduzzaman Asad said that while money had been collected during previous distributions, it was not allowed this time.

Regarding the irregularities in the VWB beneficiary list in Thana Union, Union Parishad chairman and local Awami League leader Abdur Razzak Milon said, "No one had brought these allegations to me before. I am looking into the matter."

The acting Upazila Women Affairs Officer, Mosammat Soheli Parvin, said, “The distribution of food for the eight disputed cards has been temporarily halted. Further investigation will be carried out to take appropriate action.”

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Minhajul Islam confirmed receiving the complaint, stating, "The Women Affairs Officer has been tasked with thoroughly investigating the matter."

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