Khulna food controller accused of bribery, irregularities

Khulna District Food Controller (DC Food) Mohammad Tanvir Hossain has been accused of widespread irregularities, corruption, bribery and forming a syndicate in various sectors of the food department. Various circles related to the food department, including rice mill owners, OMS dealers, flour mill owners, etc. have made these allegations.

It is alleged that due to an influential clique formed under his leadership, the normal activities of the food department are being disrupted and opportunities for irregularities have been created in various services and administrative processes. The complainants also claim that many officers and employees of the department are embarrassed and uncomfortable with the activities of the district food controller.

In a written complaint submitted to the higher authorities by the rice mill owners, it is said that since the current district food controller took charge, no work has progressed in the government food procurement program without bribes. The complaint states that bribes were paid at a fixed rate in almost all cases – allocation, bill discount, transportation and warehousing activities.

The complaint states that an advance bribe of Tk 20,000 was paid for every 100 metric tons of rice to get approval for crushing paddy in government warehouses in the 2025 Iri season. Even then, the millers’ bills were withheld for eight months. It is also alleged that many millers have not yet received their due bills.

Rice mill owners claim that bribes of 50 paisa per kg of rice were paid for general allocation during the Aman procurement season and Tk 1 per kg for reallocation. According to the complaint, bribes of about Tk 52 lakh 50 thousand were taken against 10,410 metric tons of rice, Tk 23 lakh 95 thousand against 2,395 metric tons of reallocation rice and another Tk 32 lakh 76 thousand against 3,276 metric tons of Atap rice. The complaint also states that the approval letter would not have been issued if the millers of Khulna had not paid the advance bribe.

The written complaint further states that while millers of Khulna had received allocations up to the maximum of two phases, millers of other districts had received reallocations of the third and fourth phases. It is claimed that millers of Khulna have been financially affected by this.

Meanwhile, there have been allegations of irregularities in the receipt of low-quality and old sacks at Maheshwarpasha CSD. The complainants claim that a bribe of about Tk 50 lakh was taken for sack certification. Information about the allegations of supply of old sacks was obtained during an inspection of a rice mill in Khulna. Belal Hossain, manager of Arafat Auto Rice Mill, said, “We received old sacks during such a season. At that time, the millers objected. Later, those sacks were discarded and new sacks were supplied this time.”

The rice mill owners alleged that the District Food Controller runs his office while staying in Dhaka most of the time. The necessary documents are taken to Dhaka through a peon and signed. The complaint states that many rice mill owners went to the office from morning to evening for a month without meeting him.
Media workers are also aware of the complaint of not being able to find him in the office. To verify the truth of the complaint, they went to the office of the District Food Controller for three consecutive days last week and could not find him. Although attempts were made to contact him on his mobile phone several times, he did not answer the phone.
Meanwhile, there is also an allegation against him of leaking the question paper of the third and fourth class recruitment examination of the Food Department. It is alleged that each candidate was offered a job by taking 5 to 10 lakh taka. The victims held a human chain and protest rally in Khulna in October last year to raise these allegations.
It is learned that the Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the allegation of acquiring assets other than known income against District Food Controller Mohammad Tanvir Hossain. According to the relevant sources, notices were issued to him, his wife and children, to submit their assets in December.
Apart from this, there have been allegations against the district food controller of trying to form a food procurement committee involving Awami League leaders. According to sources from the Deputy Commissioner’s office and the Food Department, an initiative was taken to include Khulna Metropolitan Awami League Vice President Mallick Abid Hossain Kabir as a member in the district procurement and monitoring committee to be formed before the start of the 2026 Boro paddy, boiled rice and Atap rice procurement program. However, sources claim that the committee’s approval was suspended when the matter came to the attention of the Deputy Commissioner.
Regarding the irregularities of the district food officer, General Secretary of Khulna District Rice Mill Owners’ Association Md. Mustafa Jamal said, “Money has to be given to the officers through various means. We have no separate statement. We had given a written complaint. Later, the food officer called us and promised to settle the complaint. No further progress was made on the matter.
When asked about this, District Food Controller Mohammad Tanvir Hossain said, “The complaint is not correct. No money is taken against the allocation of paddy rice.” The members of the owners’ association have withdrawn the complaint. If you want to know, you will find the truth of it. I always work in the office. Those who don’t work may not come during office hours. Anyone can file a complaint with the ACC. Let them investigate and see what I have.