In Ulipur, Kurigram, there have been allegations of massive irregularities and corruption in the project titled Production and Expansion of Advanced Technology Based Jute and Jute Seeds. Deputy Jute Development Officer Dulal Chandra Das is said to be involved in this irregularity. The official has embezzled lakhs of taka through unbridled corruption without giving the seeds and fertilizers allotted to the jute farmers to the farmers.
It is learned that 1 kg jute seeds, 6 kg urea, 3 kg TSP and 3 kg MOP fertilizer are to be distributed among 3,000 jute farmers of 7 unions in this upazila in the project titled Advanced Technology Based Jute and Jute Seed Production and Expansion in the year 2020-21. But without distributing these materials, information has come to this reporter that irregularities and corruption have been resorted to. Deputy Assistant Jute Officer Dulal Chandra Das was then contacted. But the officer tried to influence the reporter in various ways without giving information. Later, on September 6 last year, an application was filed in the Right to Information form asking for a list of beneficiary jute farmers. He delayed to provide the required information within the stipulated time. After that an appeal was made to the District Jute Development Officer but he did not respond. On December 19, 2021, at the request of the Information Commission, this unscrupulous official was forced to give information through a virtual hearing on April 5 this year. The cats in the bag came out when the search was carried out based on the list obtained.
According to the list, the name of Naresh Chandra Varman is in the 26th rank of the municipal council. But he died three years ago. Nibaran Chandra, Ratan Kumar, Sachindra Nath, Devendra Nath and some other landless people of the same neighborhood are also known. Although the names of these landless people are in the list of beneficiaries, they do not know anything about them.
Matiar Rahman (Serial No. 2641) of Nandunefra village of Gunaigachha union said that he only wanted to pay every year but did not get it once. Azizul Haque of West Kaludanga village died a few years ago, but did not receive a shred of encouragement while still alive. Habibur Rahman of the same village cultivates jute in 15-20 acres of land every year but does not get any incentive. He doesn't even know the name on the list. Milon Mia of that village used to cultivate jute three or four years ago but now he does not. But never got fertilizer seeds.
Talking to Mohammad Ali, Hirondra Nath Barman, Abed Ali and several others from Tabakpur Union, they said, "We cultivate jute every year. Although the government provides fertilizer seeds for jute cultivation, we do not get any of these. Even if the government spends lakhs of rupees, we will not benefit.”
However, Faizar Rahman of Jamia Par village of the union said, “I cultivate jute every year. However, a few years ago, once the jute grew, I got one kg of seeds. At that time the seed was of no use.”
Not only these but three thousand farmers are on the list but most of them have been deprived of these incentives.
According to sources, Deputy Assistant Jute Development Officer Dulal Chandra Das has been manipulating the same list every year by selling seeds and fertilizers allotted to jute farmers on the black market without distributing them. Has been renting a room in a person's house for a long time and using it as an office. Run the office behind the scenes. He lives in his upazila Phulbari and does not attend regular office. Let's enjoy our own whims.
Deputy Jute Development Officer Dulal Chandra Das could not give any good answer in this regard. However, he requested not to make the report.
Kurigram Jute Development Officer Abdul Awal Sarkar said the matter would be looked into at the field level.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Bipul Kumar, president of the project, said, "I don't know the matter. As you said, I'll find out. If found to be true, action will be taken against him as per rules.”