Online Desk : Authorities in Raninagar upazila have seized 29.31 tonnes of rice intended for government’s Food-Friendly Programmes and other social safety net schemes during an anti-hoarding operation.

Acting on a tip-off about unscrupulous traders stockpiling government rice, a drive was conducted on Friday at Kutkutitala area of Abadpukur Bazar.

The operation was led by Raninagar Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Sheikh Nowshad Hasan.

The rice was recovered from two warehouses owned by a trader named Jahangir Alam Babu.

Technical Food Inspector Md Anisur Rahman from Raninagar Upazila Food Controller`s Office, police from Ekdala outpost and several government-registered OMS and Food-Friendly Programme dealers were also present during the operation.

Magistrate Sheikh Nowshad Hasan said that mobile court raided the warehouses and recovered 453 sacks of 50-kg rice and 222 sacks of 30-kg rice. Several empty sacks labeled for government use were also found at the scene.

However, the main accused, Jahangir Alam Babu, along with others involved, fled before the raid.

The seized rice, estimated to be worth Tk 12 lakh, has been transferred to Raninagar government food warehouse for safekeeping.

Magistrate Hasan confirmed that a case under the Special Powers Act would be filed on Saturday by Upazila Food Department with Raninagar Police Station against Jahangir and others involved in the illegal hoarding.

Police are continuing efforts to arrest the accused.