In Saidpur, Hosneara paid Tk 150,000 but did not become chairman, names secretary and five others at arbitration meeting

Six people, including the secretary of Kamarpukur Union Parishad in Saidpur upazila of Nilphamari, have been accused of taking Tk 150,000 from a woman UP member with the promise of giving her the vacant post of chairman of the parishad.

The complainant, Hosneara, is the reserved woman member for wards 4, 5 and 6 of Kamarpukur Union Parishad and a panel chairman. Having failed to become chairman in three months despite paying the money, she demanded her money back.

At an arbitration meeting held in the presence of local BNP leaders, UP members and dignitaries, Hosneara claimed that six people, including the secretary, took a total of Tk 150,000 from her with the promise of making her chairman. A video of the incident has spread on social media.

According to Hosneara's complaint, union parishad secretary Mokchedul Islam took Tk 50,000, Masud, personal assistant to the recently dismissed chairman, took Tk 50,000, ward 9 member Morsalin took Tk 20,000, ward 3 member Alim took Tk 10,000, ward 7 member Jalil took Tk 10,000, and Moslema, the reserved woman member for wards 1, 2 and 3, took Tk 10,000.

Hosneara said she now has neither the post nor the money. She is going from door to door in this situation, but getting no remedy.

She further alleged that after the video of the arbitration meeting spread, secretary Mokchedul Islam tried to remove the union parishad's resolution book under cover of darkness to hush the matter up, using a village policeman for the task. Discussion of the matter began after a village policeman was caught red-handed in connection with the incident on Saturday (October 31) afternoon.

Village policeman (chowkidar) Manik said the secretary gave him the key and asked him to take the resolution book to Alhaj Principal Abdul Gafur Sarkar, president of the Saidpur political district BNP.

Meanwhile, it has been alleged that a resolution was secretly prepared that same night to make Jalal Uddin, ward 5 member and panel chairman-2, the chairman, and was sent to the deputy commissioner's office on Sunday morning. Jalal Uddin said he is becoming chairman according to the rules. He claimed panel chairman-1 Alal faces an allegation of keeping VWB programme beneficiaries' savings money with himself, while panel chairman-3 Hosneara also faces an allegation of irregularity for giving Tk 150,000 to the secretary and others.

Aminul Islam, president of the union's ward 6 BNP, alleged that secretary Mokchedul Islam is himself a resident of Kamarpukur union. Various irregularity allegations have been raised against him before. He was once transferred to Kishoreganj in the district over allegations including arranging a disability allowance in his son's name, and later returned to work in his own union. Aminul also raised allegations including the collection of extra fees.

Denying the allegation, UP secretary Mokchedul Islam said he took no money. Hosneara had left Tk 5,000 in his desk drawer, which he spent on a task and will return soon. He said he does not know whether anyone else took money.

Alhaj Principal Abdul Gafur Sarkar, president of the Saidpur political district BNP, said he would file a defamation case against the chowkidar over why the chowkidar mentioned his name and whether he had asked him to come. He said he has no concern with any union parishad matter, and would take legal action if anyone linked him to any incident.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Farha Fateha Takmila said they are investigating the matter. Legal action will certainly be taken if it is found to be true. As a government employee he can in no way be involved in such work, so he may initially be suspended temporarily.