They alleged at the rally that the UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) played a silent role and did not give correct information about the flood to higher authorities.

This kept the upazila virtually out of government's relief operation and aggravated their sufferings, speakers at the rally said.

They also alleged that the UNO filed a false case against four villagers including a Union Parishad member just to harass them.

The meeting, held on the premises of the UNO office, was addressed by, among others, local Jatiyatabadi Sramil Dal Convener Eaqubul Azad, Jubo Dal Secretary Abdul Halim Sarker, Awami League Secretary Shahrier Khan Biplob, college teacher Zakaria Kandker, JCD leader Rafiqul Islam Rajua and Bongram UP Chairman Fazlul Kaiyum Huda.

While contacted over telephone, UNO Paritosh Chandra Das refuted the allegations.

He claimed that Fazlul Kaiyum Huda, mobilised the people against the upazila administration to fulfil his ill motives.

The UNO claimed that Huda drew Tk 28,270 from the UP account on June 29 without prior approval and misappropriated the amount. The Deputy Commissioner during a visit on July 19 detected the matter and issued a show-cause notice asking the UP chairman to deposit the misappropriated amount.

Instead of depositing the misappropriated amount, the UP chairman prepared some fake project papers, the UNO claimed.

"I have already sent a report on flood, stating that ten out of eleven unions have been inundated affecting 7,800 families", the UNO said.

The government has allocated 35 tonnes of rice for the affected people, he said.