Dumki (Patuakhali) Representative:
Locals seized 550 kg of rice in 11 bags in an auto-rickshaw while it was being transported for sale by OMS in Dumki, Patuakhali. Upon receiving the information, Upazila Executive Officer Md. Shahin Mahmud arrived at the Lebukhali University Square area of the upazila at 10 pm on Tuesday (February 4) and seized the rice and sealed the dealer's warehouse.
Instead of selling to the poor, the dealer's nephew, Zahir Howlader, the secretary general of the Upazila Krishak League, secretly sent rice from the warehouse to the shop of local owner Malek Sikder to sell at a higher price.
It is learnt that Khalil Sikder was the designated dealer for selling 5 kg of rice at 30 taka per person to the poor in the open market (OMS) in Lebukhali Union No. 2 of Dumki Upazila. Instead of selling the rice at the specified quantity and price as per the government rules, the concerned dealer's nephew, Krishak League leader Zahir Hawlader, sold it at a high price.
Dealer Khalil Sikder said, "Zahir was a dealer of Khadda Bandhab, and after his dealer term expired, he kept rice in this warehouse and did business. I took half the rent of the warehouse from Zahir and kept OMS's rice. I still have 1 ton of rice in the warehouse. Zahir has sold the rice he owns. This rice is not mine and I am not involved in it in any way."
Upazila Executive Officer Md. Shaheen Mahmud said, "Upon receiving the information, we reached the spot, seized 11 sacks of rice and sealed the dealer's warehouse. A case under the Special Powers Act of 1974 is under process at Dumki Police Station."
Md. Suman Mridha
Dumki (Patuakhali) Representative
