DHAKA, April 29, 2020 (BSS) – The Local Government, Rural Development and
Cooperatives Ministry has suspended one more Union Parishad (UP) chairman and
three UP members for irregularities in distributing relief goods.
The Local Government Division (LGD) of the ministry today issued separate
notifications in this regard.
A total of 39 public representatives, including 16 UP chairmen, 22 UP
members and one Zila Parishad member, have so far been suspended over the
relief scam, said a press release.
The suspended chairman is Jahedul Islam Chowdhury of Toytong UP in Pekua
upazila of Cox’s Bazar district.
The UP members are Md Bachu Mia of Ward No 8 of Char-Aralia UP under Raypur
upazila in Narsingdi district, and Md Shariful Islam of Ward No 7 of
Nandalalpur UP in Kumarkhali upazila and Md Habibur Rahman of Ward No 9 of
Dowlatpur UP in Dowlatpur upazila under Kushtia district.
The notifications mentioned that the UP chairman and members have been
suspended temporarily for various reasons including, embezzlement of rice
allocated under the government’s food-friendly programme to combat the crisis
triggered by COVID-19 and rice of VGD programme.
Besides, separate showcase notices were served on them asking to send their
replies to the Local Government Division through respective deputy
commissioners (DCs) within 10 working days from the date of receiving
notices, explaining why they should not be removed permanently from their
posts.