A curious list for old-age allowance

Forty-three-year-old Khairun Begum, a resident of Hajipur union in Moulvibazar, has been getting old-age allowance over the last few years.

But the minimum age limit is 65 for men and 62 for woman to be entitled for the allowance, as per the government rules.

The Daily Star has got a copy of the list of Hajipur union under Kulaura upazila. There are 722 names in the list and Khairun's serial number is 272.

Lakshmi Rani, 41, Malakar is also listed for the allowance. Her serial number is 647.

Like Khairun and Lakshmi, at least 30 persons have been included in the list before reaching their age limit. Even, allowances are being withdrawn in the name of some dead persons.

Ummar Ali of Ranchap village had been getting the allowance for around seven years. He died around 16 months ago when he was 63, but his name is still on the list and someone is taking his allowance regularly. His serial number is 189, said Abdul Aziz, a neighbour.

Gopesh Chandra Malakar died around 18 months ago when his age was 44. He had been receiving old-age allowance for around five years. His allowance is still being withdrawn, alleged Fakhar Uddin Ahmed, a resident of Ranchap village.

Fifty-year-old Vobendra Dey of the same village died three years ago. He had been getting old age allowance for around seven years and his allowance is still being withdrawn.

Some people, who have been listed before reaching their age limit, are Abdul Monaf, 56, Ummar Ali, 62, Shashank Malakar ,48, and Jyotirmoy Malakar, 53, Pankaj Rudrapal, 56, Sujan Mia, 62, Abul Mia, 63, Asik Mia, 58, Shailesh Dey, 64, Abdul Karim, 64, Abdul Karim, 52, Ashkir Mia, 52, Maleka Begum, 50, Anil Roy, 54, and Parmesh Chandra Dey, 55.

Shafiq Mia, 60, Panua Rabidas, 50, Siraj Mia, 53, Abdul Mukit Chowdhury, 50, Mahmud Ali, 64, Niranjan Malakar, 64, and Abdur Rahim, 54, Abdul Bachit, 53, Khalik Mia and Mansur Mia, 55, and Panmati Das, 55, are also on the list.

Usually, the elected member of a union parishad ward prepares the list of aged poor of his or her area. Then, the member sends the list to the chairman of that union parishad. After giving approval, the chairman forwards it to the Department of Social Services.

Joynal Abedin, a resident of Ismailpur village, recently filed a complaint with the office of deputy commissioner over irregularities in distributing old age allowance.

In his compliant, Joynal alleged that a local union parishad member, Sheikh Abdur Rauf, has included names of some persons in exchange of bribe though they don't fulfil the criteria.

Following the complaint, local social service officer has started probing it.

Contacted, Kulaura social service officer Ibrahim admitted that some people are taking the allowance by providing false information.

He hinted that these names were included by the UP member.

"We have already suspended allowances to around 15 to 20 persons for providing false information," he told The Daily Star.

Sheikh Abdur Rauf, member of ward-4 of the union parishad, denied the allegations of his involvement in such irregularities. These names were included by some previous members and chairmen of the UP, he claimed.

Abdul Bachhit, the incumbent chairman of the UP, claimed that he knew nothing about the irregularities. It may have been done by the previous UP chairman.

Contacted, immediate-past UP chairman Mahmud Ali denied the allegations and said he knew nothing about it.