2000 sacks of ‘VGD and VGF’ rice seized while being smuggled

About 2,000 sacks of rice have been seized while being smuggled out of a government warehouse on Thursday night.

District administration seized the rice from a storehouse at Gorur bazar area of the district town, reports news agency UNB.

A three-member probe body has been formed with additional district magistrate Morjina Akter as its convener to investigate the incident. The other members of the committee are District Food Officer and OC (investigation) of Sadar police station.

Confirming the incident additional deputy commissioner Tareq Mohammad Zakaria said, “The committee has been asked to submit probe report within 24 hours because this is the time for distributing VGF. It would be tough to distribute the rice among the poor people if the duration crosses.”

The rice is being distributed among the ultra-poor through the chairmen of various unions with the initiative of the food-friendly programme under the slogan “Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh, hunger will find no place”.

The VGF rice was specially allocated from the government on the occasion of ensuing Eid-ul-Azha.

Fifteen KGs of rice will be distributed among each of them. However, under VGD, 30 KGs of rice are likely to be distributed among each of them.

Executive magistrate Yasin Arafat informed that acting on a tip off, a drive was conducted at the Surma Auto Rice and Flower Mills at Gorur bazar area, when 1050 sacks of rice was found at the godown, 860 sacks on a truck and huge quantity of open rice were confiscated.

“These were allegedly being filled in other sacks from the government ones while being prepared for smuggling,” Arafat added.

“It is presumed that these are the VGD and VGF rice for being distributed among the poor people,” said a concerned source adding that “action would be taken against those responsible for the incident after investigation”.

Meanwhile, quoting manager of the business house Noyon, Arafat said the pilferers said the rice was purchased from chairmen of various unions.

Sadar thana police, government officials and employees, and executive magistrate Anisur Rahman were present during the drive.