667 sacks of rice of Food Friendly Programme seized in Joypurhat
Joypurhat Correspondent
The upazila administration conducted a raid in Kalai Upazila of Joypurhat after receiving information that an attempt was being made to illegally sell government rice from the Food Friendly Program (VWB) project. In the raid, 667 sacks (each sack weighing 30 kg) of rice were seized.
On Thursday morning, while taking rice from a warehouse near the Chandair Dakhil Madrasa in Jhamutpur Chandair of Ahmedabad Union of the upazila, an agitated crowd informed the Upazila Executive Officer after seizing the rice. Later, the operation was conducted under the leadership of Upazila Executive Officer and Executive Magistrate Shamima Akhter Jahan and the rice was seized.
In the case of selling and purchasing government rice, a mobile court was set up and a fine of 10,000 taka was imposed on dealer Ashraf Ali, 15,000 taka on rice buyer Sohrab Ali, and 50,000 taka on Ali Ahmed, for a total of 75,000 taka. In addition, the seized rice was distributed to orphanages.
Eyewitnesses said that Ashraf Ali, the younger brother of former Ahmedabad Union Parishad chairman and Ahmedabad Union Awami League president Ali Akbar, has been distributing rice as a dealer for a long time. On Wednesday, dealer Ashraf Ali and rice traders Ali Ahmed and Sohrab called the beneficiaries and handed them 900 to 950 taka instead of 30 kg of rice.
Beneficiaries who received money instead of rice, including Shafir Uddin, son of the deceased Mohir Uddin of Borai village, and Abdul Hannan, son of Lojir Uddin of the same village, said that they did not receive rice this time. The dealer gave 900 taka instead of 30 kg of rice. Rice is not allocated.
Upazila Food Inspector Mahmudun Nabi said, "On the orders of the Upazila Executive Officer, the dealer and two traders were arrested at the spot and 20 metric tons of rice were seized. There is no opportunity to buy and sell government rice."
UNO Shamima Akhter Jahan said, "We have conducted a drive on charges of illegally storing and selling government rice. The seized rice has been distributed to several madrasas and orphanages in th
