Gofran Biswas Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)

In Kalapara of Patuakhali, there has been apprehension over the distribution of low-cost food-friendly program rice among the poor. Apart from the policies, the appointment of dealerships based on party considerations and after the change of political situation, these dealers are in hiding due to the fear of attacks and lawsuits, there has been such apprehension about the rice lifting and distribution of the food friendly program.

Besides, BNP has demanded cancellation of these dealerships appointed on the basis of party considerations. Union and Upazila Food Friendly Committees are now ineffective. This has created uncertainty about the purchase of rice at a low price for 20 thousand 153 beneficiaries of the food friendly program in 12 unions of the upazila.

According to sources, 34 food friendly program dealers were appointed in 12 unions of the upazila during the previous Awami League government. Most of these dealers are appointed outside the rules on party considerations.

Many of these dealers have allegations of irregularities. The Department of Food formed a nominal investigation committee against some dealers for sale of rice and black market in the media. The irregularities and corruption of the dealers were going on by managing the food friendly committee and office.

A similar picture was seen in the operations of OMS dealers. While standing in line to collect rice and flour at a low price, many poor beneficiaries have been admitted to hospital after being beaten and tortured by these influential dealers.

However, the law could not touch the accused dealers as they were influential. Even though the Food Department found out the truth of these incidents, their helplessness in the face of power has been revealed again and again. Even the dominant dealer’s extramarital affair with the office’s female food inspector ends in marriage. However, the accused dealers and office-holders remain in the good books of the higher authorities. Irregularities and corruption continue. This is how the dealers became rich overnight for 15 long years. And the intention to eradicate poverty in the 7th five-year plan announced to achieve ‘No Poverty’ and ‘Zero Hunger’ for the purpose of sustainable development has collapsed.

The source also said that there are rumors about the selection of beneficiary families in each union. Beneficiaries are elected in party, electoral work, financial transactions without considering the criteria prescribed by the policy. Apart from this, the names of the wealthy relatives can be seen in the list without dividing the number of beneficiary families. The authority never took action even though there were complaints of underweight in rice distribution. However, the Union and Upazila Food Friendly Committee have joined forces to finalize the list of beneficiaries and the dealership recruitment process.

According to the sources of the Food Directorate, the National Food Policy enacted in 2006 has said to ensure food safety system. Then, in 2016, the ‘Food Friendly Program Policy, 2017’ was formulated to further consolidate the program by revising the policy of distribution of food grains through cards at fixed prices to the poor at the Union level.

Md. Mujibur Rahman, President of Baliatli Union BNP, said, ‘In my union, these party dealers of the Awami League will no longer distribute rice, I have made it clear. Therefore, we demand to cancel these dealerships appointed on the basis of party considerations.’

Upazila Food Controller Md. Nurullah said, ‘under the food friendly program, each beneficiary family can buy 30 kg of rice at the rate of 15 taka per kg from March, April and September-November. In the month of September, 604.590 metric tons of rice has been allocated in favor of 20 thousand 153 beneficiary families in this upazila. This will be distributed among the beneficiary families through 34 dealers of 12 unions.’

Md. Nurullah also said, ‘We have already canceled the dealerships of four people and appointed new dealers based on the complaints. Besides, I have come to know that after the government change on August 5, some dealers are in hiding as there is a case against them. We will take steps following the policy to conduct the fair rice distribution program.’

Md. Rabiul Islam, President of Upazila Food Friendly Committee and Kalapara UNO, said, ‘If there is a complaint of irregularity, the old dealership will be canceled and a new dealership will be appointed following the rules for the sake of conducting fair operations.’