Civil servants misappropriating rice face the music
Many public servants have so far been suspended while a lot of those involved in the food-friendly programme have had their dealerships cancelled
The local authorities and the law enforcement agencies in different areas of the country have brought to book many government officials involved in misappropriating rice meant for relief.
The rice was to be distributed among the poor people in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
Many public servants have so far been suspended while a lot of those involved in the food-friendly programme have had their dealerships cancelled.
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14,000kg rice seized in Jamalpur in 24 hours
A total of 14,100 kilogrammes of rice were seized in the last 24 hours. Some local Awami League leaders stored the rice in their warehouses instead of distributing it among the low-income people as part of the food-friendly programme.
The upazila administration during a drive in Islampur's Guthail Bazar seized 4,850kg rice on Sunday. The warehouse is jointly owned by Moazzem Hossain, Awami League vice-president of Chinaduli union's ward 3, and Mosharraf Hossain, member of the unit. They both absconded.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, who conducted the drive, said the food officer concerned had been ordered to sue the two Awami League leaders.
A mobile court, meanwhile, during a drive in Islampur on Monday seized 9,250kg rice. The rice was seized from the Guthail Bazar warehouse of Nandu, a local businessman who absconded before the drive was conducted.
Sandwip AL leader, wife sued
A total of 132kg rice was seized from the house of a local Awami League leader in Chattogram's Sandwip island on Sunday.
Ashraful alias Asif is the Awami League president of Sarikait union.
Officer-in-Charge of Sandwip Police Station Sheikh Shariful Alam said the upazila food controller, Rabindra Lal Chakma, filed a case in this connection.
He said Ashraful obtained the dealership for OMS (open market sale) rice of the food-friendly programme in the name of his wife Razia Sultana.
"He was accused of stealing six kilogrammes of rice from each of the 30kg sack," added Shariful.
Rice seized from female Jhalakathi UP member's in-laws' house
A total of 180kg rice was seized from the house of the in-laws of a female member of Shuktagor union parishad in Jhalakathi's Rajapur upazila on Monday.
Acting on a tip-off and assisted by the police, Rajapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Shohug Howlader led the drive.
Police said the rice was seized from the house of Hasan Ali in Shuktagor's Gighra village. Hasan is the father-in-law of local Union Parishad member Sonia Akhter.
Court orders probe against Kushtia UP chairman
A court in Kushtia has ordered an investigation into OMS rice misappropriation allegation against Kushtia Sadar upazila's Goswami Durgapur union Chairman Dabir Uddin Biswas.
He has been accused of misappropriating OMS rice after collecting it under a false name for four years.
On Sunday, Kushtia Senior Judicial Magistrate Selina Khatun gave the order of her own accord.
She ordered the officer-in-charge of Kushtia Model Police Station to probe the allegation and submit the report by June 3.
Trolley driver held with 120 sacks of rice in Lalmonirhat
Police in Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila on Monday detained a trolley driver with 120 sacks of rice weighing 25kg.
The driver, Dukhu Mia, was transporting the rice from a warehouse in the upazila's Sindhurna early Monday.
Nazir Hossain, inspector (investigation) of Hatibandha Police Station, said Dukhu lives in Kaliganj upazila's Modati union.
Natore UP chairman, member suspended for beating farmer
The local government ministry has temporarily suspended Natore's Lalpur upazila Chairman Abdus Sattar and Union Parishad member Rezaul Karim for beating a farmer who asked for relief.
Also, the ministry has asked the local administration to explain within 10 days why the two will not be permanently suspended.
Natore's Deputy Commissioner Md Shahriaz received the ministry order on Sunday.
Police earlier arrested Sattar, Karim and another accused Rubel in this connection.
Dealer detained with rice in Sirajganj
Locals in Sirajganj's Shahjadpur upazila on Sunday handed a rice dealer over to police with 357kg OMS rice.
The dealer, Alauddin, was detained from the house of Bakkar Mollah of Gopalpur village in the upazila's Kaijuri union.
Alauddin lives in the village, said Shahjadpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shah Md Shamsuzzoha.
