Case filed against former BNP leader for illegally storing VGF rice in Kurigram

A case was filed against a former BNP leader this morning on charge of illegally storing around 3,800 kilogrammes VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) rice in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram.

The VGF rice was recovered from a maktab (a centre for teaching Arabic) run by the imam of a local mosque at Kaliganj Bazar next to the union parishad yesterday.

Locals alleged that BNP leaders and activists forcibly took share of VGF cards from the chairman and members of Kaliganj Union Parishad. The rice was withdrawn through the VGF cards and deposited in the maktab by a group of people led by Jamal Uddin, who was the former general secretary of Kaliganj union unit of BNP.

Nageshwari Upazila Cooperative Officer Nur Kutubul filed the case today with Kaliganj Police Station in connection with the incident.

The Upazila Assistant Commissioner (land) Mahmudul Hasan said Jamal Uddin has been in hiding since the VGF rice recovery incident.

He added that locals found the VGF rice kept in the maktab and then informed the administration. "I visited the scene and seized the rice. It is being investigated whether the Union Parishad chairman and members are involved in this matter."

When contacted, Kaliganj Union Parishad Chairman Reazul Islam said that VGF rice was distributed among the beneficiaries yesterday. However, he said that no local BNP men forcibly took the VGF cards.

Since the incident happened outside the union parishad, the chairman and members are not responsible for it, he added.

When asked about that how Jamal Uddin collected the VGF rice, he replied that he did not know.

Kaliganj Bazar Jame Mosque Imam Ismail Hossain said, "Jamal Uddin took the key of the maktab from me. He had stored VGF rice in the Maktab. I am not involved in this matter."

Jamal Uddin's mobile phone was found switched off when this correspondent tried to reach him for comment.

Nageshwari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rezaul Karim Reza said that a drive is being launched to arrest the accused. He said, "The Imam of the mosque, Ismail Hossain, was questioned and released last night."