4 held for possessing VGF rice in three districts

Seventy-seven sacks of Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) rice were recovered in Bandarban, Mymensingh and Sirajganj districts yesterday and Thursday.
Four persons including a union parishad (UP) chairman were arrested in Bandarban and Mymensingh districts in this connection.
Our Bandarban Correspondent reports: A UP chairman and two others were arrested for illegally possessing VGF rice in Naikhongchhari upazila yesterday.
Following allegations received from people, policemen of Baishari police investigation centre conducted raids in different places in the upazila and recovered 53 sacks of VGF rice sanctioned for distribution among poor people of Baishari union, police said.
About 26 sacks of VGF rice were recovered from the house of one person named Wahiduzzaman while 27 other sacks were recovered from a shop.
Police arrested Baishari UP chairman Faruq Ahmed, Wahiduzzaman and shop employee Abdul Quddus in this connection.
Later, Mamun Miah, an executive magistrate of Bandarban Collectorate and Captain Abdul Awal of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) visited the spot and assured people that stern action would be taken against the criminals.
Our Mymensingh Correspondent reports: Police recovered 800 kilogram of VGF rice kept illegally in 10 sacks at Goshgoan Bazar in Dhubaura upazila yesterday.
One person identified as Md Mafiz Uddin, 50, of Jhigatala village in Dhubaura was arrested in this regard.
VGF rice was distributed among 1,000 people at Goshgoan union yesterday in absence of upazila relief officer, police said. During its distribution, Mafiz Uddin deceived the recipients and took VGF rice to Goshgoan Bazar illegally for sell yesterday morning.
People informed local administration about the matter. Being informed, Dhubaura upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Sultan Alam rushed to the spot and arrested Mafiz along with the rice.
Mafiz Uddin confessed to police that he had distributed 10 kilogram of rice instead of 15 kilogram of rice to each of the needy people.
When contacted, Dhubaura UNO said Mafiz along with seized rice was handed over to Dhubaura police.
Our Sirajganj Correspondent reports: Police recovered 14 sacks of VGD rice at Pathrail in Chowhali upazila on Thursday.
Tipped off, a team of police rushed to the village and recovered the rice while being taken to the godown of Abu Sayeed, a local rice trader.
Instead of distribution, Abdul Quader, chairman of Umorpur Union Parishad sold the rice illegally to Abu Sayeed, Chowhali Police Station sub-inspector Kofil Uddin said. After the incident, both chairman Quader and Abu Sayeed went into hiding, he said.
While contacted over cell phone, district relief officer Abul Khair said he had heard the incident but failed to say in details.