A student leader apart
Setting up a unique example of honesty, Bangladesh Chhatra League leader gives back aid money he received mistakenly
A leader of the ruling Awami League's student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League has deposited back the cash he received on his mobile phone mistakenly, and the money was later handed over to the right person.
This happened when many local political leaders, mostly from the ruling party, are making news over relief embezzlement.
The student leader Delwar Hussain is the joint convener of Sunamganj's Dowarabazar upazila chapter Chhatra League.
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During the recent disbursement of the government's cash support to some 50 lakh poor families across the country ahead of Eid-ul Fitr, Delwar received Tk2,500 on his mobile banking account just before the festival.
The student leader was surprised as he was not in any list for government assistance. He moved for finding the right person meant for assistance.
Delwar said he first contacted the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer. However, the actual beneficiary of the cash was not identified even after seven days.
Then Delwar collected the email account of PM's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus from the website and informed him of the matter.
The BCL leader said a joint secretary of the finance ministry contacted him subsequently. The government official gave him a bank account number and Delwar deposited the cash Tk2,500 in that account.
"The amount may not be big, but I wanted the actual beneficiary to get it. He or she must have need for it. Therefore, I moved to finding the right person for whom the assistance was meant," said the student league leader.
Dowarabazar upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sonia Sultana said, "The cash meant for a person named Lucky Akter ended up in Delwar's mobile banking account due to one wrong digit in the mobile number."
"I looked up for the actual receiver of the assistance after being informed. However, I could not find Lucky Akter in the list for my upazila," said the UNO.
The UNO notified the issue to the deputy commissioner's office. She was then referred to Bishwambarpur upazila where Lucky Akter lives.
Finally, the actual beneficiary, Lucky Akter, a poor inhabitant of Bishwambarpur upazila of Sunamganj district, got the money because the administration responded to resolving the matter quickly.
