Police have arrested a dealer with 500 kilograms of OMS rice, meant for sale to the poor at Tk10 per kilogram under a government program.
The arrested, Mozdar Rahman, was arrested from Podum Shahar village of Saghata upazila on Monday afternoon.
Mozdar is the son of Azgar Ali, living nearby. He is also the co-owner of Rakib Traders.
Enayet Kabir, in-charge of Bonarpara Police Station, said ten rickshaw vans laden with sacks of chicken feed and headed for the Bonarpara area, aroused suspicion in locals who stopped the vans and informed local authorities.
Arriving at the scene, law enforcement found that the sacks were actually full of OMS rice. Upon interrogation, the van drivers revealed that they were asked by Mozdar Rahman to transport the sacks to his warehouse.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohiuddin Jahangir initially asked Mozdar Rahman, over the phone, to come to the union council office to explain his actions. When he failed to show up after three hours, Mohiuddin decided to raid his warehouse with a contingent of police.
Finding irregularities with the rice stored in the warehouse, police arrested Mozdar.
Mohiuddin said a case is being filed against Mozdar and that he will be stripped of his dealership.
As part of an initiative, the government has started the sale of rice at a special price for the poor so they can better afford the staple food in the ongoing general holiday intended to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
