The Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Ministry has suspended a Union Parishad chairman in Chattogram and two members in Natore and Narayanganj over allegations of stealing rice allocated by the government for distribution among people as relief amid fallout from coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry issued a release in this regard today.

The suspended local representatives are: Nurul Afsar, chairman of Mirzapur union under Hathazari upazila in Chattogram; Shahin Shah, member of Ward-6, Sukash union under Singra upazila in Natore; and Kabir Hossain, member of Ward-8, Pirojpur union under Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj,

The ministry came up with the decision after separate investigations found the allegations against them to be true, according to the release.

The ministry also asked the chairman and the members to respond within 10 days with explanation as to why they should not be removed permanently from their respective posts over the allegations.