563 bags of rice for relief seized

A patrol team of Bangladesh Navy seized 563 bags (each bag weighing 50 kilogram) of rice from two trawlers in the river Shibsha at Nalian under Dakop upazila in Khulna on Sunday.
The government had allotted the rice to distribute among the cyclone Aila-hit people in Koira upazila.
The rice was being taken to Khulna for sale in the black market. Eight people were arrested for carrying the rice in two engine trawlers.
Rice trader Sohrab Sikari who purchased the rice from Koira has been absconding getting information of arrest of his eight employees who were carrying the rice to Khulna, police said.
When contacted, Koira Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Arif Pasha said he is not aware of seizure of the rice meant for relief in his area.