155 tons of govt rice seized, food official among 5 held

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB 7) has detained five people including an official of the Food Department, and seized 155 tonnes of rice which were allegedly being smuggled from a CSD (Central Supply Depot) food warehouse in Chittagong’s Halishahar area yesterday. Manager of Halishahar CSD food warehouse Pronayan Chakma, a truck driver and his associates were detained during the drive. Acting on a tip-off, a team of the RAB 7 led by Lt Commander Ashiqur Rahman conducted the drive in the city’s Halishahar and City Gate areas from Monday night till Tuesday afternoon. Lt Commander Ashiqur Rahman, deputy director of Rab 7 told the Dhaka Tribune that they detained five men including a food official and seized seven trucks carrying 155 tons of rice in 3096 sacks. “At first we seized four trucks carrying rice at Halishahar area Monday night. ‘Director General of Food’ was imprinted on the seized sacks of rice. As per the information provided by the manager of the CSD food warehouse, we conducted another drive at City Gate area and seized three trucks carrying government rice,” said the RAB official, adding that the Food Department officials confirmed that the seized trucks were smuggling rice from the government warehouses.