Jamaat leader gifts govt bicycle to granddaughter, returns it following criticism

Maulana Tajul Islam, the Upazila Jamaat Amir and former Upazila Chairman of Kotchandpur in Jhenaidah, has faced allegations of gifting a government-allocated bicycle to his granddaughter. Following intense criticism after a video of the incident spread on social media, he has returned the bicycle to the upazila administration.

According to local sources, 24 bicycles, along with goats, spray machines, sewing machines, footballs, and wheelchairs, purchased under the government allocation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2025–26 fiscal year, were distributed among beneficiaries.

According to the allegations, Maulana Tajul Islam signed for and received a bicycle himself, showing it as an allocation under the name of a madrasa student named Saimun. Later, he gifted the bicycle to his granddaughter, Mariya.

The video of him signing for the item went viral on Facebook, triggering widespread criticism. Subsequently, on Wednesday afternoon, he returned the bicycle to the office of the Kotchandpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

Initially, Tajul Islam claimed that the bicycle was given to a boy in his neighborhood. However, he later changed his statement and admitted that since his son is unemployed and facing financial hardship, the bicycle was given to his granddaughter.

Confirming the incident, Kotchandpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dipa Rani Sarkar stated that following allegations of nepotism in the distribution, the bicycle was taken back upon the advice of the local Member of Parliament (MP). It has since been re-allocated and handed over to a new beneficiary named Sumaiya Khatun.

She further added that an investigation is currently underway to determine if there were any irregularities in the distribution of other materials as well, including the sewing machines, goats, and spray machines.