Lentils Meant for 785 Poor Families Looted

Mymensingh Correspondent

Mymensingh— Unidentified miscreants broke into a room of the Sarisha Union Parishad office in Ishwarganj upazila on Wednesday night and stole 31 sacks of lentils meant for distribution to low-income families under the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) program.

The theft, involving goods valued at approximately Tk 90,000, was confirmed by Union Parishad Chairman Md. Ekram Hossain Bhuiyan. The lentils were under the care of Md. Sohag Mia, the dealer for M/s Kanchamatia Store.

“I stored the 31 sacks of lentils in a room at the Union Parishad office for 785 cardholding families and locked it securely last night,” Sohag Mia said. “When I came to distribute the goods in the morning, I found the door, lock, and frame broken. All the sacks were gone.” He reported the incident to local authorities and filed a formal complaint with Ishwarganj police station.

Acting on the complaint, a team led by Inspector Md. Golam Kibria from Atharbari Police Investigation Center conducted a day-long search but found no trace of the stolen goods.

Locals suspect the involvement of a group of individuals, noting the logistics required to transport 31 sacks. “This was not a one-person job. They likely used a vehicle, and loading so many sacks would take time. It’s puzzling how no one noticed,” one resident remarked.

Union Parishad Chairman Bhuiyan called the incident “highly regrettable,” adding that the stolen goods were kept in an old, less secure building of the Union Parishad. “Although the room was locked, the door wasn’t very sturdy,” he admitted.

Officer-in-Charge Md. Obaidur Rahman of Ishwarganj Police Station confirmed receiving a complaint and said efforts to recover the stolen goods are ongoing.

Ishwarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sarmina Sattar stated, “I have been informed about the theft. I have instructed the Union Parishad chairman and law enforcement to take swift action.”

No arrests or recoveries have been made as of yet. Investigations are ongoing.