A senior leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) has been detained by members of the public and handed over to local law enforcement authorities in Netrokona following allegations of financial extortions under the guise of providing government-subsidised ‘Family Cards’.
The suspect, identified as Syeda Sadia Islam, serves as the Organisational Secretary for the NCP’s Netrokona district branch. Sadia, a third-year undergraduate student at Netrokona Government College and daughter of Saiful Islam from Tetulia village in Madanpur Union, was apprehended around 5:30 pm on Tuesday, 8 September, in the Kurpar Masterbari area of Netrokona town.
According to police sources and local residents, Sadia allegedly promised five individuals—including Iti Akhtar, Sumi Akhtar, and Mst Priya Akhtar—that she would secure official government Family Cards on their behalf. In exchange for this assurance, she reportedly collected a fee of 3,000 BDT from each applicant, accumulating a total sum of 15,000 BDT.
The government’s Family Card initiative is a social safety net programme designed to provide low-income households with essential food items and daily commodities at subsidized prices to ease financial hardship. Because these cards are officially distributed through transparent government channels and local administration oversight, charging money to procure them constitutes a serious violation of social welfare protocols.
Frustration grew among the victims when prolonged delays followed the monetary transactions, with no cards delivered. Realising that they had been deceived, the affected individuals and local citizens confronted Sadia in Kurpar before detaining her and alerting the police.
Officers from Netrokona Model Police Station subsequently arrived at the scene to take her into custody. Sajal Kumar Sarkar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle), confirmed the detention, stating that the police have launched a formal investigation into the allegations. He assured the public that if the preliminary findings substantiate the complaints, strict legal action will be pursued against the accused in accordance with local laws.
Representatives from the NCP district committee have not yet issued an official statement regarding the detention or the allegations levelled against their organizational secretary.
