UP member jailed for piling aid rice

A union parishad (UP) member has been sent to jail in Jhalakathi’s Rajapur upazila for storing up rice meant for distribution as aid among the poor.

Babul Talukder, UP member of ward No. 1 of Galua union in Rajapur, stored 28 sacks of VGD (Vulnerable Group Development) rice in his possession, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Shohag Howlader told our Jhalakathi correspondent.

Tipped off, a team lead by the UNO raided two neighbouring houses of Talukder and seized the stored the rice by use of force, the UNO said.

Jalil and Hossen, the owners of the houses, said they were intimidated by the UP member for keeping the sacks full of rice in their houses, he said.

The member was arrested and a case was filed with Rajapur Police Station in connection to this illegal possession, the UNO added.

The rice is allotted for the poor under VGD project and it cannot be stored or sold, he said.