NATORE, Mar 2: Alleged irregularities in distribution of agricultural loan have been detected at Halsa union branch of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) in sadar thana here.

Farmers of the union have raised the allegations of bribery against the bank officials in sanctioning loans.

Despite government directives to ensure quick disbursement of corruption-free agricultural loan, the bank officials in connivance with brokers, middlemen and tahasildars. force farmers to bribe five to 10 per cent of incentive for a loan, the farmers alleged. Those who do not offer brines the officials are put off even for months", said Union Parisad(UP) member Md Shamsul Haq.

"If they are ’greased’. loans are available in a day or three, if not. the officials say ’there is no budget’ or take other pleas for harassing the farmers, said Nagen Chandra Roy. a farmer leader in Halsa union.

Roy also alleged that some middlemen, who have "close dealings" with the bank manager. had been exploiting the loan-seekers. He said, generally. the amount of bribery remains between Taka. 100 and Taka 500 for a loan.

Israfeel of Nolkhola village, Joynal Abedin of Chirakola and Akhtar Hossain of Matikopa village in Halsa union alleged that they had to

bribe the bank officials for loans. Three other farmers from Bagrom. Fulsor and Sultanpur villages, unwilling to be quoted told this correspondent that they got their loans after 20 days to one month of filing the applications at the intervention of the UP chairman.

Farmers further alleged that brokers were also extracting money from loan-seekers to manage loans. They also identified some brokers as Md Alauddin of Fulsor village. Su-rug Ali of Bagrom. Akkas Ali of Nishchintapur villages and many others. While visiting Halsa union recently this correspondent found the two brokers at RAKUB office premises and persuading their clients. When asked they refused to talk to this correspondent and later fled from the scene.

When contacted, UP chairman Abdul Basit Mia told that the farmers of the locality had always been complaining him about bribery by the bank manager while many of the farmers were yet to get any loan even at the mid-period of Boro paddy cultivation.

The 52-year-old chairman said, "I have asked the manager thrice to stop the practise, but he did not show any respect to my words."

He also alleged that, in many cases, loans were not going to the right persons. A school teacher of Halsa questioned the responsibility of the field su-

pervisors of the bank in this respect. He said, many people were doing business or other things with the money which they took as agricultural loan from the bank.

Abu Bakkar of Sultanpur took Taka. 50.000 as agri-loan for banana cultivation, but he has not any banana orchard. There are such more instances like Habibur Rahman of Bagrm village. Safig Uddin Mia of Sultanpur and Soharab of Fulsor village.

A tahsildar informed this correspondent that the bank officials had developed links with some dishonest tahsildars to earn money illegally.

Md Hafijur Rahman, Manager of RAKUB at Halsa union, however, claimed that the loan disbursement process was fair and ruled out the allegations of corruption. But the manager kept silent when asked about the UP Chairman's open request to stop bribery.

BAM Shafiqul Islam, the Regional Manager (RM) of RAKUB, Natore region, when contacted, virtually admitted the allegations. He said, "I have heard of the allegations of Halsa and Chowgram union in. Shingra thana in the. but no one has come forward to me with a complaint."

However, the RM said, tough action will be taken against the persons concerned if such allegations are proved.