Rangamati, Mar 28 (V7N)– The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs is facing serious allegations of misallocating resources intended for rehabilitation, with accusations that they are prioritizing fugitive Awami League leaders and supporters over those genuinely in need.

"The Ministry of Hill Regions has allocated thousands of tonnes of rice for the rehabilitation of Awami League in the hills," a local source reported.

The controversy stems from the distribution of substantial food grain allocations under a special program, with claims that these resources are being directed towards individuals who fled the region following political unrest.

"Even though Awami League leaders and Awami supporters have been absconding from all over the country since August 5, the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs is working on a special program to rehabilitate Awami in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Such allegations have been raised across the three hill districts after the information about the allocation of unimaginable amounts of food grains under the special allocation program was leaked from the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts for two consecutive days," a local political observer confirmed.

Allegations suggest that the allocation favors individuals associated with the previous government, including fugitive Awami League members, journalists, and social organizations, while excluding those injured during recent protests and members of opposition parties like BNP and Jamaat.

"Among them, none of the fascist allies, including the fugitive chairman of the Awami League, Awami Laspenser, journalists, Bhuifor social organizations, and directly and personally Awami League leaders, have been excluded. However, among these allocations, there are no names of the families injured in the July movement or any leaders of the main driving force, BNP-Jamaat," a political analyst stated.

Accusations have also surfaced regarding the influence of the ministry's advisor, who is alleged to be directing resources towards his own district and relatives, as well as armed regional party members.

"Meanwhile, allegations have been made that the advisor in charge of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs has given special importance to giving gifts to his own district and his relatives in two other districts. Armed regional party terrorists involved in armed activities against the security forces in the hills were not left out of this allocation," a local activist reported.

The dissemination of this information on social media has triggered widespread anger among grassroots activists and supporters of opposition parties.

"When the issue of such unimaginable allocations spread widely on social media, it created anger among grassroots leaders and activists of like-minded parties, including BNP and Jamaat. Various sources from the organizations said that they will soon launch a movement against such biased looting by the Hill Advisor," a social media monitoring report confirmed.

Official documents indicate substantial allocations for "socio-economic development" and "medical assistance," but the beneficiary lists have sparked intense criticism.

"In the letter dated 25/03/2027, the Ministry of Hill Regions, memorandum number 29.00.00000.223.20.012.24-39, it was informed that a letter has been issued to the Rangamati Hill Region District Council to allocate one crore twenty-two lakh twenty thousand taka for the overall development/medical assistance/overall socio-economic development of the family members affected by the violence in Rangamati district. The list of beneficiaries mentioned in this letter has created a huge uproar on social media. Amidst widespread criticism on the issue, another list went viral on social media on Thursday night. The letter dated 27/03/2025, dated the Ministry of Hill Regions, with memorandum number 29.00.0000.223.20.013.24-47, mentions that 2,564 metric tons of food grains (rice) were allocated to Rangamati District Council under the special project program," official documents confirmed.

Sources claim that a significant portion of the allocated resources has gone to individuals involved in past government activities and those currently in hiding.

"Multiple reliable sources have confirmed that one-third of those who received this allocation were directly involved in the politics of the previous ousted fascist government and were involved in leading attacks on protesters during the July protests. In addition, many of those who received this allocation are still fleeing their areas for fear of public anger," a source close to the investigation reported.

The timing of the allocation, coinciding with Eid and local festivals, has further fueled public outrage, as many residents struggle to afford basic necessities.

"Eid is coming, and various festivals including Biju, Sangrai are coming in a few days. In the current context, most of the local residents of the hills stand in line from 4 am every day to purchase OMS and TCB products, trying to collect two handfuls of rice at a slightly lower price for hours. Local conscious circles have raised the question of whose interests the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs is implementing by distributing food grains allocated for the upliftment of the poor to autocratic-fascists in broad daylight in the same hills," a local community leader stated.

END/AMR/RH/