Government rice seized in Chandpur, two including BNP leader jailed and fined: BNP’s looting continues even before the national election

Local Correspondent

Chandpur: A mobile court has sentenced a shop owner in Faridganj, Chandpur to three months in prison and fined the organizing secretary of the union BNP Tk 30,000 for illegally hoarding rice from the government’s food-friendly program and selling it.

Nearly three tons of government rice were seized in a raid by the upazila administration on Sunday night (September 14). The incident has sparked intense anger among locals and has renewed allegations of BNP looting, which is being commented on in political circles as not stopping even before the national elections.

A raid was conducted at Goalbhaor Bazar in Gobindapur Dakshin Union of the upazila around 8 pm on Sunday under the leadership of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sultana Razia. Based on a tip-off, it was suspected that around 2,785 kg (a total of 92 sacks of 30 kg) of government rice was being stored in the shop of shop owner Saiful Islam. Saiful was arrested in the raid and the rice was seized.

Later, based on the information seized from him, the involvement of Union BNP Organizing Secretary Sohel Bepari in the incident was revealed. Sohel is the son of Shah Alam Bepari of Gobindpur village and Saiful is the son of Aliullah Bepari of the same village.

According to the complaint of the Upazila Food Controller’s Office, this rice was allocated for the Union Parishad under the food-friendly program. But they have been stockpiled in shops and tried to sell it illegally. After the raid, local residents expressed their anger and said, “This rice is allocated for the poor, how did it get to the shops? BNP leaders are looting the people and taking away their rights.” They demanded a thorough investigation into the matter from the administration.

After a trial in a mobile court on Monday (September 15), shop owner Saiful Islam was sentenced to three months in prison and Sohel Bepari was fined Tk 30,000.

Faridganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sultana Razia said, “This campaign has been carried out to prevent misuse of the food-friendly program. Strict action will be taken against the culprits.” She added that the rice has now been placed in the custody of the Upazila Food Office and arrangements will be made for proper distribution.

The incident has sparked widespread reactions in political circles. Local Awami League leaders say, “BNP’s attempts to loot are not stopping even before the national elections. They are taking away the rights of the poor by using government assistance, which has exposed their greedy mask.”

Local BNP sources have not yet made any official statement, but Sohel Bepari’s family members are claiming that he is innocent and that this is politically motivated.

Earlier, allegations of misuse of government rice have been made against BNP leaders in various places including Noakhali. Analysts believe that such misuse of food-friendly programs is increasing discontent among the poor people and making the election situation more complicated. The administration has announced to continue such campaigns so that government assistance reaches the right hands.