The name of Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Ataur Rahman (Bacchu)'s daughter has appeared twice on a Secretariat-approved list of beneficiaries for grants from his discretionary fund, triggering criticism on social media.
The issue came to light after a letter from the Bangladesh Secretariat approving grants from the Narail-2 (part of Sadar and Lohagara) MP's discretionary fund circulated widely on Facebook yesterday (26 June).
According to the letter, the Secretariat approved the disbursement of Tk1,83,500 from the MP's discretionary fund for FY2025-26 among 21 beneficiaries nominated by Ataur.
The attached list includes the names, fathers' names, addresses and grant amounts for each recipient.
The list shows a recipient named "Faiza" in both serial numbers one and eight. The father's name is listed as "Md Bachchu" in one entry and "Md Ataur" in the other. Each entry has been allocated Tk10,000.
Following the publication of the list, social media users claimed that Faiza is the MP's daughter.
The list also drew criticism because nine of the 10 beneficiaries from Narail Sadar upazila are reportedly from the MP's own union, Hobkhali, while seven of the 11 beneficiaries from Lohagara upazila are allegedly from his in-laws' area of Lahuria.
Speaking to Prothom Alo today (27 June), Ataur confirmed that the viral list was authentic but said it had been prepared by his personal secretary (PS).
"I was not in Narail at the time. My PS told me a beneficiary list had to be submitted. I instructed him to collect names from all unions," the MP said.
According to him, the PS later informed him that officials had advised submitting any list initially so that the allocation could be approved and the beneficiaries could be finalised later.
"My signed letterhead was with him in Dhaka. I asked him to prepare a list using people he knew. As a result, many names from my family and familiar localities ended up on the list," he said.
The MP also claimed he was unaware that the allocation had already been approved.
"I only came to know about it after the list went viral on Facebook yesterday. I then asked the UNO whether the money had been credited, and he confirmed that it had," Ataur said.
He added that he does not intend to distribute the funds according to the approved list.
"I am not the kind of person who would take Tk10,000 in my daughter's name. I will submit a different list to the UNO for distribution," he said.
However, Narail Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) TM Rahsin Kabir said the grants had been approved by the Secretariat based on the list attached to the MP's DO letter.
Under the existing rules, the grants can only be disbursed to the individuals whose names appear on the approved list, he said.
"If any listed beneficiary does not collect the money, the allocation will be returned. There is no provision to distribute the funds to a new list of beneficiaries," the UNO said.
He added that any amendment to the beneficiary list would have to be approved by the Secretariat.
Jamaat MP / Narail / discretionary grant
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