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Bangladesh government to investigate food aid corruption

Women in Patuakhali District line up for relief assistance following Cyclone Sidr, which struck southwestern Bangladesh on 15 November, killing over 3,000 and leaving millions homeless. David Swanson/IRIN
    DHAKA

    The Bangladesh government is to investigate allegations of corruption regarding its vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme. “We take these allegations very seriously and will do our utmost to ensure that everyone who qualifies receives the help they need,” Food and Disaster Management Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque told IRIN.



    The VGF programme, a social safety net programme, provides food to low income and other vulnerable groups who cannot meet basic needs for survival as a result of natural disasters or socio-economic circumstances, such as age, illness or disease. In 2010, nearly five million people received assistance.



    On 8 September, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) reported almost 80 percent of VGF cardholders in Gaibandha District, northern Bangladesh, had not received the food subsidy: Out of 13 villages in Monohorpur Union, Palasbari sub-district, only 1,000 families from seven villages were on the list of beneficiaries; six villages were excluded altogether. Local political leaders had taken the VGF cards of 600 families.



    “The unabated corruption will further endanger the lives of the poorest of the poor and the total number of such victims will be increased,” warned AHRC programme officer Ashrafuzzaman Zaman.



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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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