BNP President Caught Selling Relief Rice Meant for Flood Victims in Kaptai, Vehicle and Rice Seized

❐ Local Correspondent

Just as thousands of people stranded in flash floods across the mountains are crying out for a handful of food, an unprecedented and sensational incident of theft of government relief rice meant for flood victims has occurred in Kaptai Upazila of Rangamati.

Locals caught Chandraghona Union BNP acting president and former UP member Abul Hashem red-handed with a car loaded with rice while selling relief rice in open shops in the dark of night instead of distributing it to flood victims.

On Thursday, July 30, around 4:30 pm, locals surrounded him while he was selling rice in the Refugee Para area of ​​Raikhali Union of the upazila and started a fierce uproar and protest. Later, the angry crowd detained him and informed the police, after which the Chandraghona police station arrived and took the driver along with the BNP leader into custody.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, BNP leader Abul Hashem went to a shop in Refugee Para to secretly sell relief bags given to flood-affected people. However, when the locals became suspicious, they surrounded him and searched him. During this time, they seized two relief bags of rice and a ‘Chander Gadi’ (jeep car) used for transportation.

The vehicle’s registration number is Dhaka-Metro-G-06-0030. The driver of the vehicle, Chayan Barua (40), was also arrested for his involvement in rice smuggling.

Confirming the incident, Chandraghona Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) S. M. Saker said, “Locals have alleged that they caught BNP leader Abul Hashem red-handed while he was secretly selling rice to flood victims in a shop. Upon receiving the information, the police quickly reached the spot and took the leader and the driver into custody. Considering the seriousness of the matter, senior party leaders have been informed and legal action is being taken in this regard.”

As of 7:30 pm, accused BNP leader Abul Hashem and driver Chayan Barua were in Chandraghona Police Station custody.