Broker gang swindles Tk 50 lakh

A five-member broker gang allegedly swindled over Tk 47 lakh and 2.70 tonnes of rice from villagers in different areas of Amtali upazila under Barguna district in the name of providing power connection from Rural Electrification Board (REB), said a group of cheated people at Amtali Upazila Press Club yesterday noon.

The broker gangs looted around Tk 40 lakh from 800 connection seekers of Atharogachia village, Tk 1.50 lakh from 150 men of Godanga village, Tk 2.70 lakh from 60 men of Purbo Kukua village and Tk 2.80 lakh from 70 men of ward No 5 of Amtali municipality area, goes the allegation.

Claiming themselves as brokers lobbying with Amtali upazila REB office for electricity connection at Athorogachia village, locals Sohel Rana and Nanna Mia collected Tk 5,000 from each family in the name of different costs including Tk 1,000 for power connection, Tk 1,200 for meter, and Tk 2,800 as cable wiring charge from each, said sources at Amtali upazila REB office and locals.

They also collected three kg of rice from each family in the name of food for labourers who would be engaged in setting of power lines, the sources said.

“Many villagers informed me after brokers took money and rice from them in the name of power connection. I have asked Sohel and Nanna to return the money and rice to villagers,” said Harun-Or-Rashid, chairman for Atharogachia UP.

Sahidul Sarder of Godanga village swindled Tk 1.50 lakh from 150 villagers, taking Tk 1,000 from each in the name of primary cost of power connection.

Rasel Fakir took Tk 2.70 lakh from 60 villagers of Purbo Kukua and Kabir and Salam Mir took Tk 2.80 from 70 men of ward No 5 of Amtali municipality area, local sources said.

Saiful Islam, a contractor of the construction work for power line at Sonakhali village, said works is progressing properly and collecting money and rice from villagers in the name of giving power connection is illegal.

Contacted, Sohel Rana refuted the allegation of taking money in the name of power connection while Nanna Mia, Sahidul Sarder, Rasel Fakir, Kabir and Salam Mir declined to make any comments to newsmen regarding the matter.

Source of Patuakhali REB said approval for 336 new connections has already been made for Sonakhali area and there is plan to give electricity connections for all the families in Amtali upazila as per instruction from the government.

Monohor Kumar Biswas, general manager of Patuakhali REB, said no money is needed at REB office to get new electricity connection.

Those who gave money to so-called brokers had been deceived, he added.