A political activist in Mymensingh district is facing formal allegations of financial fraud after allegedly extorting money from low-income villagers by falsely promising access to government welfare schemes.
The accused, 55-year-old Mohammad Abul Kalam, resides in Syedgaon village within the Moazzempur Union of Nandail Upazila. According to official complaints submitted by affected residents, Kalam serves as the General Secretary of the Mymensingh North District unit of the Muktijoddha Projonmo Dal, an organisation representing the descendants of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War veterans.
The matter came to public attention after Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain, a 27-year-old resident of Kalenga village, lodged a written complaint with local journalists, appealing for public exposure and administrative intervention. Statements provided by Hossain and co-signatories reveal that Kalam extracted 7,500 Bangladeshi Taka from three residents across adjacent villages approximately two months ago. The funds were collected under the explicit promise of securing official state-issued “Family Cards” and “Farmer Cards”.
These state welfare initiatives form a vital part of Bangladesh’s rural safety net framework. Administered by local government bodies and ministries, Family Cards grant marginalized households access to subsidized essential commodities—such as rice, edible oil, and lentils—distributed via the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). Similarly, Farmer Cards function as official agricultural identity documents, enabling smallholders to access government-subsidized fertilisers, certified seeds, equipment grants, and direct monetary incentives during cultivation seasons. Designed specifically to buffer low-income families against inflationary pressures, both programmes are meant to be entirely accessible without third-party fees.
Hossain stated that Kalam collected 2,000 Taka from him directly, alongside 500 Taka from his aunt, Majida Khatun. Additionally, Kalam reportedly took 5,000 Taka from Mohammad Latif Miah, a resident of nearby Shimulatia village and the son of the late Gani Miah.
When the victims repeatedly enquired about the status of their documents, Kalam continually deferred the matter using various pretexts. The dispute turned hostiles when the residents requested a complete refund, prompting Kalam to issue intimidation and verbal threats. Hossain noted that every query regarding the cards was met with deliberate stalling, followed by open harassment once money was requested back. Latif Miah, who lives in severe financial hardship, recounted that he handed over his modest savings of 5,000 Taka in the hope of securing regular food support, only to be left empty-handed.
Rejecting all assertions of wrongdoing, Kalam maintained that the allegations are completely baseless and part of a targeted political conspiracy to sully his public image. He announced plans to initiate legal proceedings against the complainants to protect his personal standing and political rank.
Administrative officials have reacted sharply to the situation. Efforts to contact the Nandail Upazila Social Services Officer, Mohammad Mizanul Islam Akanda, were unsuccessful as his official telephone was switched off. However, the Nandail Upazila Agriculture Officer, Naima Sultana, confirmed that the issuance of Farmer Cards involves zero application fees. She assured that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and brought to the attention of senior authorities. Furthermore, the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Nandail, Fatema Jannat, affirmed that strict legal action will follow if the pending departmental inquiry validates the victims’ claims.
