3 arrested for stealing rice for poor

Law enforcers and local administration officials recovered over 480 kg rice and 42 litres of soyabean oil meant for the poor in Noakhali and Mymensingh on Tuesday.

Besides, a union parishad chairman in Narail was sued on the same day over embezzling 41 tonnes of rice. Three local Awami League leaders were arrested on charges of stealing rice and edible oil in Noakhali and Mymensingh.

Incidents of embezzling rice and other daily essentials are being reported in different parts of the country at a time when the government is distributing those among the low-income people to support them during the ongoing nationwide Covid-19 shutdown. Some items are also sold at cheaper prices through government-appointed dealers.

Against this backdrop, the authorities are carrying out drives against those involved in irregularities.

Law enforcers and administration officials have recovered about 319 tonnes of rice, 5 tonnes of sugar, 8,090 litres of edible oil and 25 sacks of chickpea in different districts since March 30. They also arrested 59 people in this connection, according to media reports.

In Noakhali, a team of the local administration recovered 459 kg rice from several houses in Nobipur union of Senbagh upazila on Tuesday evening. The rice was meant for sale to the poor at Tk 10 a kg under the government's Food-Friendly Programme.

Two AL men were also arrested during the drive, led by Khemalika Chakma, assistant commissioner (land) of the upazila.

The arrestees are Shajahan Khan Saju, general secretary of Nobipur union AL, and Ismail Hossain, member of Senbagh upazila AL.

In Mymensingh, the Rab seized 42 litres of soyabean oil and 67 empty bottles of soyabean oil from two shops in the city's Akua Chukaitola area on Tuesday evening. The edible oil was meant for sale by the state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh at fair price.

Owners of the two shops -- Md Fazlul haque, 49, and Md Helal Uddin, 42, -- were arrested, said Hafizul Islam Babu, senior assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Rab-14.

The two were handed over to Kotwali Police Station on Tuesday night.

Yesterday, a Mymensingh court sent the arrestees to jail after they were produced before it in connection with a case filed by police, said Mahmudul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.

In another incident, police on Tuesday arrested a Krishak League leader in Trishal upazila over stealing rice meant for the poor.

The arrestee is Abu Khaleque, 40, former president of Boilor union Krishak League in the same upazila. He is a government-appointed dealer in the union for sale of rice at Tk 10 a kg.

On April 11, police recovered 480 kg rice from Khaleque's shop at Dhanikhola Bazar in Trishal. He had gone into hiding following the incident, said Azizur Rahman, OC of Trishal Police Station.

A local court sent him to jail on Tuesday after he was produced before it in connection with a case filed by police.

In Narail, a case was filed on Tuesday with the Anti-Corruption Commission against a union parishad chairman on charges of embezzling 41 tonnes of rice of the government's Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programme. The case was filed by the supervisor at the office of Kalia upazila women affairs officer.

The accused is Jarjid Mollah, chairman of Piroli union parishad in the upazila, said Rafiqul Islam, OC of Kalia Police Station.

The OC said they were trying to arrest the accused.

Our correspondents in Noakhali, Mymensingh and Bagerhat contributed to this report.