A 23-year-old leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP) has been arrested in Netrokona after a woman filed a fraud case accusing her of taking money from several people by promising to arrange government-issued Family Cards.
The arrested woman, identified as Sadia Akter, is the daughter of Saiful Islam of Tetulia village in Madanpur Union under Netrokona Sadar upazila. She is a third-year honours student at Netrokona Government College and serves as the organising secretary of the NCP’s Netrokona district committee.
According to police and local residents, Sadia allegedly collected Tk3,000 each from several people after telling them that she could arrange Family Cards for them. On Tuesday afternoon, she was reportedly taking money from another person in the Kurpar area when local residents detained her and informed the police.
Police subsequently took her into custody and later showed her as arrested in connection with a fraud case filed at Netrokona Model Police Station.
The case was filed on Wednesday morning by Priya Akter, wife of Suman Mia of the Chairmanbari area in the municipal town. In her complaint, Priya alleged that Sadia initially asked for Tk5,000 to arrange Family Cards for five people. She later collected Tk3,000 from each of them.
According to Priya, Sadia subsequently asked for another Tk2,000 on Tuesday, saying that the Family Cards would be ready the following day. When she allegedly attempted to collect money from additional people, local residents intervened and detained her.
Priya said those who paid the money had done so believing that Sadia had the authority or ability to facilitate the cards.
However, the NCP district leadership has not accepted the allegations as proven.
Fahim Rahman Khan Pathan, member secretary of the NCP’s Netrokona district committee, said the party was looking into the matter and suggested that Sadia could have been targeted as part of a conspiracy.
“We are investigating the matter. Sadia may have been the victim of a conspiracy, and there could also have been a deliberate attempt to implicate her. However, if the allegation of taking money is proven, organisational action will be taken against her,” he said.
The controversy has also raised questions about the Family Card programme in Netrokona. Taj Uddin Faras, general secretary of the Netrokona Sadar upazila BNP, said there had so far been no discussion or decision regarding the distribution of Family Cards in the upazila.
He urged residents to immediately hand over to police anyone who asks for money by claiming that they can arrange a Family Card.
The issue has caused concern because people seeking access to government welfare programmes can be particularly vulnerable to individuals claiming to have political or administrative connections.
Netrokona Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Khair confirmed Sadia’s arrest and the filing of the case. He said that during police questioning, Sadia admitted to taking money from several people.
Police said she would be produced before a court.
The allegations remain subject to the legal process, and the final determination of whether Sadia committed fraud will depend on the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
A news by Alisha Pradhan, General Secretary, HerNet Foundation