Authorities in Noakhali district have seized 96 sacks of government-allocated rice from the residence of a local leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Subarnachar, following allegations of illegal stockpiling and profiteering.
The operation was carried out on Saturday afternoon after local residents informed officials that large quantities of subsidised rice had allegedly been stored for a long period at a house near Iman Ali Market in Char Jabbar Union.
According to officials, the rice was recovered from the residence of Abdus Samad, widely known in the area as “Samad Doctor”, who serves as a ward-level leader of the party in Ward No. 9 of Char Jabbar Union.
Residents alleged that government rice had been secretly stored inside one of the rooms of the property and was being sold at inflated prices in the local market. Local people who entered the premises on Saturday morning reportedly discovered around 96 sacks marked with official government labels.
As news of the discovery spread, tension grew across the area. Police officers later arrived at the scene along with members of the local administration to secure the rice and begin an investigation.
Abdus Samad denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the rice belonged to his younger brother, Kamal, a dealer operating a local retail business. He stated that the rice had been legally purchased from several religious educational institutions and suppliers in the neighbouring Ramgati area of Lakshmipur district.
Samad also said he was preparing to present supporting documents to the local administration in order to prove the legality of the stock.
Meanwhile, Omar Faruk, a local leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, defended the family and argued that the rice had been lawfully obtained from allocations supplied to various religious schools in Poragacha and surrounding unions under Ramgati. He alleged that certain individuals had intentionally spread misinformation by portraying the rice as illegally stored government supplies.
Subarnachar Executive Magistrate Akib Osman confirmed that the recovered rice weighed approximately three tonnes and had been taken into official custody pending investigation.
He stated that if the accused individuals can provide valid purchase and transport documents, the rice may be returned. Otherwise, legal action will be taken after the investigation is completed.
Seized Rice Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location of Seizure | Residence near Iman Ali Market, Char Jabbar Union, Subarnachar |
| Quantity Recovered | 96 sacks |
| Estimated Weight | Approximately 3 tonnes |
| Accused Individual | Abdus Samad (“Samad Doctor”) |
| Political Affiliation | Local leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami |
| Action Taken | Rice seized and placed in government custody |
| Current Status | Investigation ongoing |
The incident has renewed concerns over alleged irregularities in public food distribution programmes in coastal regions, where subsidised rice intended for low-income communities is sometimes diverted into private trade. Local residents have called for a transparent investigation to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of government resources.