Massive irregularities have gripped the public food distribution and procurement system in Kushtia as a section of food officials in connivance with dishonest rice traders are pocketing huge money through a 'buyback' arrangement.

Allegations are there against the food officials that they force the recipients of rice sanctioned under the government's test relief (TR) programme to sell the same at a lower price to the rice traders.

The traders dien resell the rice to the eight public granaries in the district at a premium price under the current food procurement drive.

Sources said a section of officials of food godowns arc compelling TR recipients to sell the rice to certain rice traders at Tk 15,000 per tonne and then they are procuring it from the traders at Tk 22,000, making a hefty profit of Tk 7,000 per tonne.

The profit from the 'buyback' arrangement is being shared among the traders and godown officials, sources alleged.

The government has launched the ongoing food procurement drive to provide fair price to the farmers.

On June 24, some local journalists during a snot visit to a district food godown first observed the matter. The journalists informed high officials of the district administration of the irregularities.

Additional District Magistrate Md Fazlur Rahman, who is heading a three-member committee to investigate the food scam, told The Daily Star that they also found some irregularities as reported. The committee will soon submit its report, he added.

Acting Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ashok Kumar Debnath told this correspondent that they would send the report to the ministry concerned soon after receiving it.

"Actions against the culprits involved in the scam will be determined by the higher authorities," hesaid.

As per the rules, different institutions at the grassroots get sanctions through applications for TR rice for small repair and rehabilitation works, which they implement with the proceeds coming from the sales of the sanctioned foodgrains.

The government this time has fixed the rate per tonneTR rice at Tk 29,429, but the TR recipients in most cases are being compelled to sell their sanctioned grains at half the price.

Besides, there are allegations of gross irregularities against the institutions receiv-

ing theTR allocations from the government.

Sources said a major portion of rice sanctioned for different institutions is being misused due to lack of monitoring. In many cases, the institutions do not use the rice for development works as prayed for.

This correspondent visited some institutions that got allocations and found the allegations of misuse were largely true. For instance, one religious institution under Kushtia Sadar Upazila received one tonne of TR rice for earth filling but it ended up using the same for buying stationeries for the institution.

A total of 5,608 tonnes of rice was allotted for the district in the current season. So far, 2,390 and 934 tonnes have been exhausted in two phases while the third and last phase of 2,284 tonnes is being sanctioned now against various TR applicants.