Widespread irregularities and bribery have been alleged in government paddy procurement at the food godown in Nikli upazila, Kishoreganj. Although paddy is supposed to be purchased at the government-set price, dealers are reportedly demanding bribes of 2,000 to 2,500 taka per ton to accept paddy into the godown. Affected farmers allege that many marginal farmers who refused to pay the bribe were pressured into taking their paddy back.
The Nikli food godown has set a procurement target of 1,568 metric tons of paddy and 2,001 metric tons of rice this season. Under the policy, paddy is supposed to be bought directly from farmers, but allegations have emerged that a broker network and local influential figures are procuring paddy in advance using government sacks.
Kamrul Islam, a farmer from Dampara union, alleged that his 307 maunds of paddy were weighed and taken into the godown, but a godown official is now pressuring him to take it back because he refused to pay a 2,000-taka-per-ton bribe. He has filed a written complaint with senior authorities, including the district commissioner. Another farmer from the same union, Al Amin, said that a demand for advance payment has left many marginal farmers like him excluded from the government benefit.
LSD Officer-in-Charge Himel has categorically denied the bribery allegations. He said no irregularities have occurred at the godown, and that undue pressure is instead being put on him.
Meanwhile, Nikli Upazila Food Officer Lutfun Nahar and Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdus Samad said farmers were selected through a lottery, though the agriculture officer acknowledged that names of several individuals, including freedom fighters, were added to the list on the recommendation of influential figures. He maintained that selection was carried out through a lottery based on collected national ID information, and said no complaints had reached him. District Commissioner Sohana Nasrin said: “No such complaint has reached me. If a specific complaint is received, it will be investigated and necessary action taken.”