The government has so far suspended a total of 42 public representatives for their alleged involvement in misappropriation of relief goods during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, an official said.
Of the total temporarily suspended public representatives, 17 chairmen and 23 members of different union parishads (UPs), one district council member and another council member of pourashava.
The local government, rural development and co-operatives (LGRD & Co-operatives) took the action against union parishads (UPs) chairmen and members under section 34 (1) of Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009 while for district and pourashava councillors under section 31 (1) of Local Government (Pourashava) Act, 2009.
The LGRD & Co-operatives ministry started coming down heavily against the chairmen and members who are involved in embezzlement of relief foods following the strong directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The country is passing through a general holiday since April 26 last to keep people indoors to check further spread of coronavirus infection.
The poorer segment of the society is hit hard by the ongoing lockdown as it has snatched away their livelihoods temporarily.
The government started to provide relief materials to the needy and distressed people during the Covid-19 infection.
But a section of unscrupulous public representatives has been indulged in misappropriation of relief materials by depriving the deserving persons.
The incidents of misappropriation of relief materials have prompted the government to take stern actions against chairmen, members and councilors.
A high official of the LGRD & Co-operatives ministry told the Financial Express on Monday the government thinks it would not be wise on administrative point of view if allowing the suspended union parishads chairmen, members and district and pourashava councillors to continue their jobs.
Earlier the LGRD & Co-operatives minister Md Tajul Islam has asked all concerned officials, including police in the districts and upazila levels, to gearing up their efforts to check misappropriation of relief materials allocated for the needy and distressed people.
Mr Islam said the stern action will continue against chairmen, members and councilors if they involve with misappropriation of relief materials allocated for the needy and poor people.
The sacked public representatives are: ward councillor of ward no. six (6) of Charghat pourashava of Rajshahi Raju Ahmed, chairman of Monpura UP under Monpura upazila of Bhola Md Amanat Ullah Alamgir, ward no. 1, 2 and 3 reserved women member of Mankon UP under Muktaghacha upazila of Mymensingh Nazmin Akter Lovely.
Chairman of Niamatpur UP under Karimganj upazila of Kishoreganj Makhdum Kabir Tonmoy, chairman of Arjunpur Baramhati UP under Lalpur upazila of Natore Md Abdus Sattar and chairman of Majihotto UP under Shibganj upazila of Bogra Mirza Golam Hafiz Sohag.
The suspended UP members are: member of ward no. five (5) of Arjunpur Baramhati UP under Lalpur upazila of Natore Md Reza, member of ward no. six (6) of Kedurpur UP under Babuganj upazila of Barisal Md Jakir Hossain, member of ward no. eight (8) of Hajirhat UP under Monpura upazila of Bhola Md Abdur Rab Patwary, member of ward no. six (6) of Joynagar UP under Kalia upazil of Narail Sheikh Mosharref Hossan and reserved women member of ward no. three (3) of the same UP Roni Begum, member of ward no. nine (9) of Khaskaulia UP under Chouhali upazila of Sirajganj Md Rafiqul Islam, member of ward no. three (3) of Bagbati UP under sadar upazila of Sirajganj Md Al Amin Chowdhury and member of women reserved seat of ward no. seven, eight and nine (7,8 & 9) of the same UP Mosammat Ashia Khatun.
