Kurigram Sadar Upazila Social Service Office held hostage by the syndicate

The Kurigram Sadar Upazila Social Service Office has been held hostage by a syndicate made up of local officials and employees and local public representatives who have been staying at the same workplace for a long time. Education stipend, old age, disability and widow allowance cannot be matched without money.

The investigation shows that some of the officers of Kurigram Sadar Upazila Social Service Office, SM Habibur Rahman since 2009 and field officer supervisor Riasad Azim Jeem, union social workers Shahidur Rahman, Shiuli Begum have been staying at the same workplace for a long time. A powerful syndicate clique has developed under their umbrella with local public representatives, village police. The list of elderly, disabled, widow allowance beneficiaries of Sadar Upazila is being controlled through this syndicate cycle. Beneficiaries have to suffer due to being controlled through the syndicate cycle. Saidur Rahman, the entrepreneur of Sadar Upazila's Holokhana Union, raised the disability allowance due to the death of Shiuli Begum, a member of the Syndicate Chakra, a social worker of the Holokhana Union. Whose beneficiary no.-03490041094. Saidur Rahman's mother Sahida Begum-03490039424, father Abul Hossain-03490039419, aunt Ambia Khatun-03490038716. Besides, Vipul Mia-03490041579, Hachen Ali-03490038701, Haider Ali-3490016493 are enjoying benefits even though they are not disabled.
Nine-year-old Abu Azad, son of worker Meher Jamal and Achma Begum, a resident of Moratari Chhatrapur village of Panchgachi Union of Sadar Upazila, is physically challenged. The family applied for disability allowance about two years ago. Also got a disability card No. 20154915285107877-02. This card was issued on 27 August 2022. But even after getting this card, the allowance money has not reached the fate of the child. Even after contacting the social services office several times, no solution was found. On the contrary, the social services office submitted an application from him to change the number in June this year. But for a long time the money went to another number but that number was not given to the family.
Rupbhan Bewa, a sick old man of Hazirkuti village in the neighboring Ghogadah union. His Disability Allowance has been stopped for three years, even though he got the allowance twice in his No. 4915228246317. Now the old woman Rupbhan Bewaka has to live without food in a helpless condition. The family members went to the member, chairman and social services office but still could not start the disability allowance of this old lady.
There is also a gap in the list of widow, disability allowance. Name, address are all correct but only mobile number is not correct. By changing such numerous mobile numbers, the members of the syndicate circle are grabbing huge sums of money. But the beneficiaries know nothing. Dead Shahidul Islam of Panchgachi Union of Sadar Upazila No. 03490033184. Although he died almost a year ago, his name was not removed from the disability allowance list. Someone else is withdrawing money only by changing the mobile number receiving allowance. Among these, Mostna Khatun Beneficiary No-03490040716, Nurmina Khatun-21566, Habib-37670, Safiqul-22979, Gani Mia-38981, Rabial Haque-39065, Guljan BB-23586, Amena Khatun- 39982, Khadija BB-45196, Matiar are eligible. Rahman-39082, Chapura Pagli-40378, Samsher Ali 21449, Rupbhan Bibi-27384, Abeya Pagli-21966, Shahidul Islam-33184, Machimon-22621, Morsheda-35849, Tshalima-32597, Afroza-344141, Tajnin Akhtar-24312, Kachiron Begum-22857, Moyful-39048, Marufa Akhtar-39087, Lutfa Begum-41231, Josna Begum-40026, Mohammad Ali-39050, Sumi Khatun-15980, Azad-75655, Balijon-22861, Enamul Haque-38961, Chalema-68251, Rahena-40984, Hachen Ali-51137, Upijn-75753, Sanaullah-75388, Basanti-75368, Aloka Rani-63298. In the last fiscal year 2023-2024, the letter sent to the Union Parishad signed by Upazila Social Service Officer SM Habibur Rahman shows that only the list of elderly and widow allowances has been requested. No Schedule of Disability Allowance sought. Because searching yields surprising information. In the upazila there was also allocation for disability allowance - 1239. Among them, the chairman gave the names of the applicants in the list sent for replacement, namely, Holokhana UP-37, Belgacha-49, Mughalbasa-28, Jatrapur-24, Panchgachi-17, Ghogadah-23 and Bhogdanga-22. At least 230 of these allowances are sold by the syndicate even though the application period has expired. Out of these 230 people, most of them did not get the money or the correct development number of the beneficiary was not given. It can also be seen that in Kanthalbari union, 38 disabled beneficiaries number-03490080166 to 03490086946 and 43 beneficiaries number-03490085139 to 03490086755 in Holokhana union, a total of 81 beneficiaries in two unions have been included in the final list without applying. Many of them do not have disability cards, they have been detained in the office. Many people do not know that the allowance has been given in their name. The development number is being corrected by telling these unknown people to give an allowance of 2 to 5 thousand taka.

Several beneficiaries, who did not wish to be named, said that although Shahidur Rahman was employed as a union social worker, he worked in the social service office as he was a confidant of the officer. No card is available from him without money. 300 to 5000 taka for each card. And Jim works on the computer. But even though he himself is a disabled person, he takes money for giving allowance and changing mobile number. They have people at the ground level. No allowance is available without them.

Acknowledging that 4 members of the family are disabled, entrepreneur Saidur Rahman said, I am disabled due to pain in my left hand. I have also received allowance several times. My mother is visually impaired and my father is immobile and my aunt walks with a limp. For this reason, I got disability allowance through my half sister Shiuli Begum. He still has the papers. He claims that the allowance is currently closed.
Saidur Rahman's mother Sahida Begum said, "My son is not disabled and my husband and I are both sick." So I got disability allowance several times.
Haider Ali said, I am old. Can't do heavy work. Due to pain in the knee, I paid two thousand rupees to my son-in-law and got my name on the disability list. But still haven't received any money or card.
Meher Jamal said, my son is physically disabled. But since two years I am not getting money even after visiting upazila social service office. Got disability card a year ago. I have given mobile number 2339 in online application. But I heard that money is going to 9974 number instead of that number. That's why Riyasad Azim, who works on the computer, told Sir Jim, he said that no number can be shown. On the contrary, tip signed an application from me on 23rd June to change my mobile number. I have given my earlier mobile number there too.
Achma Begum said that since two years I have gone to social service office many times after spending money. But no one listens to our poor people. Harassment must be acknowledged. The family runs without eating anything with Kamla. But we have not received money since two years. And someone else is getting that money. Does not give that number.
Rezia Begum, the sister-in-law of sick Roophan, said that she received disability allowance twice. But for three years they do not get that money. I went to the office several times but it didn't work. The family does not survive and there is no money to go to and from the office again and again. So I stopped going to office.
Maleka Bewa, the wife of deceased Shahidul Islam, said, "My husband received disability allowance." It's been a year since he died. Since then, no money comes to our 027 phone number. But even if his name and address are correct, we do not know the money that goes to 369 phone number. This is not the phone number of any of our relatives.
If you want to talk to union social worker Shiuli Begum about your name being included in the list even if you are not disabled, she said that I will not talk to you about this.
Jatrapur UP Chairman Abdul Ghafoor said that many local public representatives are dissatisfied with the list of beneficiaries of the list of disabled and widows. He said that even though the names and numbers of many beneficiaries are correct, they are not getting money for a long time. He also said that when many beneficiaries of disability allowance die, they take it from the new or waiting list instead. But no name is taken from the new allotment of disabled persons. They will be able to tell better how the social service office coordinates them.
In this regard, Sadar Upazila Social Service Officer SM Habibur Rahman claimed that there is no syndicate and said that those who have golden citizen card are getting allowance. Although many have received earlier, their allowance is stopped because they do not have a golden card. They are complaining about not getting allowance. Also many beneficiaries are denied allowance for using the same mobile number covered by other government benefits. Again, many beneficiaries share the secret PIN number of their mobile. Hackers are easily withdrawing money. As a result, even if the allowance goes, he does not understand it. There are many such problems. However, he said, no one has given any verbal or written complaint against any staff of my office regarding giving card in exchange of money or stopping the allowance. However, he promised to investigate and take necessary measures if complaints are received in this regard.