The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has commenced inquiries against 94 Union Parishad members, including a number of chairmen, for their alleged involvement in corruption and irregularities during the COVID-19 relief programmes.
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharjee, director (public relations) of the ACC, confirmed the matter on Saturday, saying an ACC team led by its director general AKM Sohel has already prepared a list of 30 UP chairmen and 64 UP members in the light of media report.
Allegations run rife that these public representatives were involved in embezzling government rice distributed under social safety net and relief goods, selling Tk10-a-kg rice in the black market instead of to the poor and making fake lists of beneficiaries for the prime minister's cash aid.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has suspended them.
Regarding the issue, ACC chairman Iqbal Mahmood said the commission had already filed 21 cases against the UP chairmen and members.
Some of the accused were already arrested, he added.
Iqbal Mahmood, also said that the ACC will not let anybody enjoy the wealth they have amassed illegally.
"During this hard time, those who are embezzling rice, money and other government facilities intended for poor people are not human beings. They will not be spared," he warned.
