The government has suspended at least 205 elected representatives in the local government for their irregularities in the distribution of relief materials among the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to sources in the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD), the government, as part of its zero tolerance policy against corruption, took punitive measures against those offending local representatives.

The government doled out a huge quantity of relief materials, as succour including rice and cash to the poor and destitute during the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

However, a section of corrupt public representatives at the grassroots level have been found to be involved in corruption and misconduct in the distribution of relief materials.

LGRD Minister Mohammad Tajul Islam has issued a strong warning against the corrupt public representatives involved in misappropriating relief materials meant for the poor during the coronavirus pandemic.

“None will be spared if found guilty, under any circumstances,” he said.

LGRD Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said that they had taken punitive measures often verification of allegations against 205 people, including 72 UP chairmen.

“In future, those who would be found guilty, would not be spared”, he added.

The Ministry sources said most of the suspended representatives were elected chairmen and members of different Union Parishads (UP) across the country. Among the suspended representatives, a total of 72 were UP chairmen while the rest were members and others.

The first coronavirus infection was detected in the country on March 8 this year. Since then, under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government gave various incentives to the people of the country. Even the authorities concerned sold rice at a subsidised rate of Tk 10 a kg to the poor.

But, some local representatives, in unholy nexus with a section of dishonest people got involved in corruption in the distribution of the government relief materials. They misappropriated the relief goods at different places of the country.  

According to ministry sources, punitive measures have been taken against the corrupt elected local representatives as they were found guilty after a though investigation. At first, the office of the local Deputy Commissioner conducted enquiries into the allegations against the local representatives. The enquiry reports were forwarded to the ministry along with recommendations.

Meanwhile, the ministry issued notices against the alleged representatives asking them to show cause as to why action would not be taken against them. Those who could not show proper causes and failed to prove his or her innocence have been suspended by the ministry.