Allegations of irregularities have been raised over the government's rice procurement drive in Kushtia. In Mirpur, Daulatpur and several other upazilas, allocations have been made in the names of non-existent and closed mills, while many mill owners do not even know about the allocations.

Ordinary mill owners allege that the irregularities have gone on day after day through a syndicate in collusion with some food department officials.

According to the district food office, the rule is that rice allocations go to mills that hold a licence, are operating and are able to supply rice. A special committee draws up the list of mills each year, and after receiving an allocation the owners sign a contract with the food office and supply the rice.

Investigation found that Sheikh Rice Mill in the Nimtala area of Mirpur upazila closed about five years ago under a burden of losses. Its buildings have been demolished and the land is being prepared for farming, yet 12 tonnes of rice have been allocated in its name. Basna Rice Mill in the same area was sold four years ago, and 12.5 tonnes of rice have also been allocated in its name.

The same is true of BR Rice Mill in Mirpur. Its owner Bazlur Rahman said his mill's licence was cancelled because he did not renew it, yet almost 12 tonnes of rice have been allocated in its name. He knows nothing about the allocation.

Mominur Rahman, owner of the closed Sheikh Rice Mill, said: "Ours is a husking mill, set up in 2000. It ran until 2020 and has been closed since. Since the mill was founded we have been able to supply rice to the government twice. The rest of the time, whichever party is in power runs a syndicate. We never even see our licence. It is still the same. They don't need our signatures; they sign themselves and take the allocation."

Rasheduzzaman, the current owner of Basna Rice Mill, said: "Running the mill was making losses, so I shut it. I know nothing about the food licence and have never received any papers."

The mill's former owner, Aminul Islam, said that 20 years ago, while the mill was running, he took a Tk 20 lakh CC loan. Unable to repay it, the interest mounted, and he was forced to sell the mill two years ago.

Several mill owners, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it is not only the Sheikh, Basna and BR mills: more than half the rice mills given procurement allocations in Mirpur and Daulatpur upazilas are either non-existent or closed. They alleged that some food department officials have been carrying out these irregularities through a syndicate, and that no one dares protest because its members are influential. They want the problem fixed.

Acknowledging the irregularities, Joynal Abedin, general secretary of the Kushtia District Rice Mill Owners' Association, said: "Most of the rice mills in Mirpur do not exist. It is the same in Daulatpur. For political reasons we cannot say anything."

Denying the allegations, Mirpur upazila food officer Zinnat Jahan said: "We formed a three-member committee, prepared the list and sent it. There is no scope for this to happen, because I have told the millers that if my inspector hides information about any mill, they should inform the district officer in writing and action will be taken."

Kushtia district food controller Al Waziur Rahman said: "At the start of every procurement season we carry out a survey. A mill that is fine this season may not be the next; someone may even sell it. We have kept in the survey the mills that exist or are running. The list has been posted on the notice board and given out at meetings, and it states that if there is a specific complaint about any mill, action will be taken at once and its allocation cancelled. Immediate action will be taken on the mills that have been complained about."

This Aman season the food department will buy 19,000 tonnes of rice in Kushtia at Tk 47 a kg. Procurement will continue until 28 February.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.