900 kg of embezzled relief rice seized in Gaibandha

The chairman of Kamardani union parishad (UP) in Gaibandha Sadar upazila went into hiding on Wednesday as his involvement in black marketing 900 kg of rice allocated as relief for the flood victims came to light.

The government allocated five tonnes of rice as grant for the destitute flood affected people of Kamardani union and Nurunnabi Sarker, chairman of the UP, was to distribute it among the beneficiaries, police quoted locals as saying.

Some of the rice was distributed among the flood victims on September 14 but the UP chairman misappropriated a portion of it.

On Tuesday he engaged village police members Mirajul and Naya Mia for selling the rice in the market. Seeing the bags inscribed with 'Food directorate' local people challenged them and seized 18 bags of rice, each containing 50 kg.

Meanwhile Mirajul and Naya Mia fled the scene.

Local people informed Gaibandha Sadar UNO of the matter, and as per his instruction, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ruhul Amin went to the spot and seized the misappropriated rice on Wednesday.

A FIR was filed with Gaibandha Sadar Police Station.

Since than UP chairman Nurunnabi remained absconding.

He could not be contacted for comments, as his cell phone remained off.