Staff Reporter:
The upazila administration recovered 13 sacks of government-supplied Aman paddy seeds from a madrasa run by a Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Chattogram’s Lohagara on Thursday.
The seeds had been allocated for free distribution among local farmers, but were allegedly not distributed and were instead kept at the madrasa.
The Jamaat leader, Shamsul Islam Helali, is the ameer of Jamaat’s Charmba union unit and also serves as acting superintendent of Jameul Ulum Madrasa.
According to Lohagara upazila administration sources, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Bayezid-bin-Akand visited the madrasa on Thursday. During the visit, he found a room beside the superintendent’s office locked and ordered it to be opened.
Thirteen sacks of Aman paddy seeds were subsequently recovered from the room.
Lohagara Upazila Agriculture Officer Kazi Shafiul Islam said the seeds had been distributed to farmers free of cost around 20 days earlier.
“As Charmba union is a remote area, the seeds were sent through two representatives of the farmers. The seeds were supposed to be distributed among the farmers 15 days ago. We will investigate why they were not distributed and how they came into the possession of a political leader and take necessary action,” he said.
Asked about the allegation, Shamsul Islam Helali said they had received 17 sacks of seeds for distribution among farmers and had distributed four sacks. He said he kept the remaining seeds at the madrasa but could not distribute them because of his busy schedule.
UNO Bayezid-bin-Akand said the recovered seeds had subsequently been distributed among local farmers.
“A show-cause notice has been served on the madrasa superintendent. Further legal action will be taken after receiving his reply,” he said.
