BNP leader ‘selling’ family cards for Tk 100!
Dhamrai Mohila Dal President Farida Yasmin
A new business appears to have begun around the survival hopes of people who live from hand to mouth. Although the Family Card is supposed to be provided free of charge, a Tk 100 fraud scheme is allegedly operating in villages across Dhamrai in the name of arranging Family Cards. The alleged mastermind behind the scheme is Farida Yasmin, president of the Dhamrai Mohila Dal.
Invoking the name of the local MP and displaying her party influence, she has allegedly taken cash from more than 100 impoverished women. A woman named Nasima Akter from the Sindhulia area has been working at the field level as her associate. She collected photocopies of national identity cards, passport size photographs and Tk 100 in cash from each person. She would then hand the money over to the BNP leader.
Victims Shirin Akter and Rupban from Baneshwar village said they had submitted the necessary documents along with Tk 100 each in the hope of receiving Family Cards. They are not the only ones. The group has allegedly collected money in the same manner from nearly 50 families in the area.
An investigation found that Farida Yasmin held a meeting at her son’s in laws’ house in Kalidaspatti village. There, she allegedly told the women present that the local Member of Parliament had assigned only her the responsibility of distributing Family Cards in Dhamrai.
HM Rustam, general secretary of Somvag Union BNP, expressed anger over the matter and said, “As soon as I learned about the matter, I told ordinary people not to give any money. Taking money from helpless people by using the MP’s name and damaging the image of the party in this way cannot be tolerated in any way.”
When contacted for her response to the allegations, Farida Yasmin initially claimed that she was innocent. When the names of the victimized women and evidence of the amounts of money were presented to her, she disconnected the phone call.
Dhamrai Upazila Social Services Officer SM Hasan said the matter had been brought to the attention of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer. An investigation is underway to verify the truth of the incident.
Dhamrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Al Mamun said, “Although there is no written complaint, we have started an investigation. If evidence is found that money was collected in the name of government cards, legal action will be taken against those involved.”
He further said that when the local Member of Parliament, who is currently abroad, returns, a political review of the matter will also be recommended.
