Fakes enjoy privileges

A good number of outsiders are illegally enjoying various government facilities meant for the residents of former Indian enclaves, now merged with Dimla upazila of the district, as they got their names falsely listed in government documents

Many of the genuine beneficiaries are being deprived due to the malpractice, locals said.

Aggrieved over the matter, several residents of four former enclaves in Dimla filed a written complaint to the deputy commissioner (DC) of Nilphamari on August 20 this year, alleging that 50/60 families are getting such facilities illegally before the eyes of the authorities concerned.

According to the complaint, Md Mizanur Rahman, hailing from Paschim Kharibari village of Dimla upazila, having national ID card No 19747311228432599 falsely got listed as an inhabitant of enclave No 29 Boro Khanki Gidaldoho.

He is serving as teacher of Titpara Adarsho High School in Sadar union of Dimla upazila since September 29 in 1996 (teacher index No 564179).

Another 'outsider' beneficiary, Mazeda Begum having national ID card No 19787311228434205 is working as assistant teacher of Paschim Kharibari Government Primary School since April 20 in 2006 and regularly drawing salary from Dimla branch of Sonali Bank with account No 719.

A few others enjoying such illegal facilities in enclaves are Mominur Rahman, national ID No 19847311228000029, Abdul Alim, national ID No 19907311228000024, and Abdus Selim national ID No 19917311228000030, goes the complaint.

These people and several other illegal beneficiaries are also doing jobs in different places as Bangladeshi citizens for a long time, according to the written complaint.

Mokhtar Master, one of the complainants, alleged that those people falsely got listed as enclave inhabitants and managed to get 20 decimals of land each with khatian No 36 under Boro Khanki Gidaldoho enclave.

After the former enclaves merged with Bangladesh, the government undertook various development programmes like providing tin-roof houses, sanitary latrines, tube-wells, sewing machines, free electricity connection, spawn for fish cultivation, rice, pulses, financial support and construction of of bridges, culverts, and roads.

During a recent visit by this correspondent, several genuine inhabitants of enclaves No 28 and 29, including Moklesar, Taifur Rahman, Sofura Begum, Aliar Rahman and Joinal Abedin told him that they were deprived of different government-sponsored facilities although many fake ones got it.

It was found that Nidu Molla, who got a high quality latrine as 'resident' of No 28 enclave, set it at his house at Paschim Kharibari village outside the enclave.     

Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Md Zakir Hossain said, "I have directed the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Dimla to investigate the allegations.

Contacted, UNO Rezaul Karim said investigation is on to take action as per law.