Govt official accused of seeking bribe for dealer appointment

Allegations have been brought against a government staffer for asking bribes to appoint a dealer for running Food-Friendly Programme, a social safety net scheme for poor people, in Kishoreganj.

An audio clip of demanding the bribe Tk 1 lakh went viral on social media on Thursday night.

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Sources said the conversation took place between Md Fazlur Rahman Patal, deputy administrative officer of Itna upazila administration office, and Mizanur Rahman Maznu, a dealership licence aspirant.

In the audio clip, Patal was heard telling Maznu to give Tk 1 lakh, if he wants to get the licence.

Contacted, Maznu also confirmed the incident and said the conversation took place on the night of March 25.

"The upazila administration did not even give the licence as I failed to pay the money," Maznu, also general secretary of Raituti union unit BNP, told The Daily Star on Friday.

However, Patal denied the allegation and claimed that the audio clip was "fake and edited".

Contacted, Itna Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Raihanul Islam said he would take legal steps after investigation.