11 subsidized harvester machines worth Tk 3.5 crore missing from farmers in Morelganj: ACC investigating
Md. Nazmul Morelganj:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into the disappearance of 11 out of 14 modern combine harvester machines distributed at subsidized prices in Morelganj, Bagerhat.
Today, Tuesday (January 7), a team led by ACC Bagerhat District Office Assistant Director Md. Saidur Rahman went to the Morelganj Upazila Agriculture Office and started a preliminary investigation into the machines.
ACC sources said that each machine was distributed to farmers at a cost of Tk 3.2 million with 70 percent subsidy from the government. Out of the total 14 machines, 11 machines are missing. The estimated value of the missing machines is around Tk 3.5 million, of which the subsidy amount was Tk 2.10 million.
According to the records of the Morelganj Upazila Agriculture Office, the last five machines were distributed in April 2024. One of them was received by the general secretary of the Upazila Chhatra League, Nurunnabi Parag. However, the location of only three of the 14 machines has been confirmed at present.
ACC official Md. Saidur Rahman said, “The issue of the machines being mishandled has come up in our investigation. We are working to ensure accountability of those concerned and to inform about the location of the missing machines. Legal action will be taken against those involved in the irregularities.”
The then Upazila Agriculture Officer Akash Bairagi claimed that the machines were distributed after careful scrutiny and there were no irregularities. However, the current Agriculture Officer Md. Saiful Islam said that six out of the 14 machines were found in the area, while the remaining eight are under investigation.
This incident has created a great deal of excitement among everyone involved.
