4.5 tonnes govt rice seized from homes of UP chairman's cousins in Habiganj

A total of 135 sacks containing 4.5 tonnes of government rice were seized from the houses of two relatives of a union parishad chairman in Lakhai upazila of Habiganj last night.

The upazila administration found the rice sacks while raiding the kitchens at the houses of Churuk Molla and Ismail Molla, cousins of Morakari UP Chairman Abul Kashem Molla Faisal, said Lakhai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nahida Sultana.

The rice was supposed to be distributed to the poor people through the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) card provided by the government.

UNO Nahida led the operation, which was conducted following a tip-off, our Moulvibazar correspondent reports.

Upazila Women's Affairs Officer Piara Begum filed a case against Churuk and Ismail following the raid.

UNO Nahida Sultana said the government rice was taken to the houses of the accused illegally.

Legal action will be taken against the UP chairman if there is any evidence of his involvement found in the incident, she added.

When asked about the matter, Morakari union chairman Abul Kashem said he had no link with the incident.

He said the people who received the government rice sold those sacks to his cousins Churuk and Ismail.