Civil Society members have accused the Awami League of being the "founder" of stealing state money, property, and relief materials, alleging that this practice began during the regime of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding leader. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, even himself claimed that the donors have given 7.5 crore blanket for the newly independent Bangladesh in 1972 but ‘where is my blanket.’
SM Mizanur Rahman, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Jubo Arthonitibid Forum, has accused the Awami League of being the originators of a corrupt system that involves the theft of state relief materials and property, a practice that he claims continues to persist today. Rahman criticized the ongoing misappropriation of government resources, saying it is deeply damaging to Bangladesh’s international standing.
In an interview with The Daily Industry, Rahman expressed outrage over the fact that despite the country’s independence, certain factions within the Awami League continue to steal and hoard essential relief items meant for the public. "This is not a new issue; it was introduced after the independence of Bangladesh during the rule of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," Rahman said. "It is a shameful practice for an independent country, and it is tarnishing the global image of Bangladesh."
The accusations come as reports of government relief materials being siphoned off for personal gain continue to surface, including rice, textbooks, and other essentials that were meant for vulnerable communities. Rahman emphasized that such practices were exposed even during the pandemic, when large quantities of relief were found to be diverted or sold on the black market.
"This ongoing looting of state property and relief is not only harmful to the people of Bangladesh but is also severely undermining our country's reputation on the world stage," Rahman said. "It is demoralizing to see that this issue, which began decades ago, is still prevalent today under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina."
The remarks from Rahman come amid growing calls for greater accountability and transparency in the distribution of government resources. He urged the government to take immediate action to curb corruption within its ranks to restore the public’s faith and improve Bangladesh's image internationally.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Industry, Rahman criticized the ruling government, stating that some "vested quarters" within the Awami League continue to loot government-provided relief, whether it be rice or textbooks, in a manner reminiscent of practices during the 1970s and 1980s. "Even during the pandemic, it was clearly revealed that certain groups were hoarding and misappropriating state relief materials meant for the public," Rahman said. "We are currently living through the worst period of our civilization, where such looting continues unabated, Rahman added."
Rahman further stated that this culture of misappropriating public property and relief began soon after Bangladesh's independence, during the rule of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "The looting of state resources became institutionalized during the early days of independent Bangladesh, and it has persisted throughout various Awami League administrations," he added, specifically pointing to the current tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The accusations come amid growing concerns over the misallocation and black-market sale of government-issued relief items, such as rice, textbooks, and other essential resources. Rahman called for accountability and transparency in the distribution of public funds and relief materials to ensure that they reach the people who need them the most.
Meanwhile, our crime correspondent informed that two individuals have been arrested after Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Intelligence Division (DB) seized two truckloads of government textbooks printed for free distribution to students. The textbooks, meant for primary and secondary school students, were discovered in multiple warehouses in Banglabazar Ispahani Gali, Old Dhaka.
The arrested suspects are identified as Sirajul Islam alias Ujjwal (55) and Md. Delwar Hossain (56). According to DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam, around 10,000 books were seized during the raid, which took place on Wednesday afternoon. The textbooks, spanning grades 1 to 9, covered various subjects as part of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board’s free distribution program.
The raid followed intelligence reports indicating that a gang was hoarding these government-issued books and illegally selling them in the open market, undermining the government’s initiative to provide free education to students. The DB’s Lalbagh Division's Kotwali team conducted the raid at approximately 5:30 pm.
The confiscated books, valued at an estimated Tk 8 lakh, are part of the free distribution program aimed at ensuring that students from across the country receive their textbooks at the beginning of the academic year. During their initial interrogation, the arrested individuals admitted to stockpiling and selling the books, with the intent of profiting from the illegal transaction and thwarting the government’s efforts.
“This incident highlights the unethical actions of some groups who are exploiting the goodwill of the government and jeopardizing the future of students,” said Joint Commissioner Nasirul Islam. “The Intelligence Division will continue to monitor such activities and bring all involved to justice." The authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to the illegal sale of government textbooks.
On the other hand, our Bagerhat correspondent reported that Police in Fakirhat Upazila, Bagerhat, have recovered 600 sacks of government rice intended for distribution from a local warehouse. The rice, each sack weighing 30 kg and bearing the Food Department’s monogram, was seized on Wednesday night from 'Majumdar Bhandar' in Keramat Ali Market, Fakirhat Bazar.
The arrested individuals, Asatit Majumdar (21) and Abdur Rasul (45), are facing charges of hoarding and attempting to sell the government-supplied rice. Asatit is the son of Prafulla Majumdar, while Abdur Rasul hails from Barashia village. A case has been filed against them at the Fakirhat police station.
According to authorities, the rice was initially purchased from M/s Asif Enterprise, a producer of Karatoya rice in Bogra, for Tk 9.34 lakh. However, upon its arrival at the warehouse, plans were underway to repackage the rice under a different brand, "Nurjahan Rice," for illegal resale in the wholesale and retail markets. Fakirhat Subsidiary Food Inspector Iqbal Hossain confirmed that the rice sacks were being altered when the raid took place. "The perpetrators were attempting to sell government rice under false branding," he said. The police confiscated the rice, and the arrested individuals were brought to court on Thursday afternoon after the raid.
Fakirhat Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Alamgir Kabir condemned the act, stating, "This businessman embezzled government rice, causing harm to both the public and buyers." The authorities have vowed to continue cracking down on such illegal activities.
Public reaction: Efat-Ara-Shamshad, a private employee, has called for exemplary punishment for individuals involved in looting state relief materials, urging the government to take decisive action to remove the corrupt culture within the Awami League. She stressed that such practices are damaging the reputation of Bangladesh and called for urgent reforms to restore the country's global standing.
Efat-Ara-Shamshad condemned the ongoing misappropriation of government-provided relief, which continues to harm the most vulnerable sections of society. "The looting of rice, textbooks, and other essential relief items meant for the public has been a long-standing issue," she said. "It is time to put an end to this nasty culture that has persisted under the Awami League, starting from the time of the country's founding."
She emphasized that the theft of state resources, whether during the pandemic or in other instances, continues to tarnish Bangladesh’s image both domestically and internationally. "It is a shameful reality for an independent country to be plagued by such corruption," Efat-Ara-Shamshad stated. "If the government wants to save the country's reputation and remove the toxic legacy of corruption, it must take immediate action against the perpetrators."The private employee called for harsh penalties for those found guilty, warning that the lack of accountability would only perpetuate the culture of theft and mismanagement. "Only through strong and visible punishment can we remove this corruption and prevent it from undermining the future of Bangladesh," she added.
Efat-Ara-Shamshad's statement comes as public frustration grows over the continued exploitation of state resources, with many citizens demanding greater transparency and justice.
