The incident involving seized government rice in Rajibpur, Kurigram, has taken a new turn as the Upazila Food Control Office has issued a formal show cause notice to the concerned dealer. The development comes after a large quantity of government rice was recovered from a journalist’s warehouse and later distributed among local orphanages and madrasas.

According to sources from the Char Rajibpur Upazila Food Controller’s Office, discrepancies were found in the distribution of rice allocated under the government’s food-friendly program. The notice states that a significant portion of the allocated rice was not properly distributed among beneficiaries and was instead stored irregularly in a warehouse.

The document further mentions that although some rice was reportedly distributed, a considerable amount remains unaccounted for. Allegations of unauthorized sale and mismanagement of government food stock have also been raised, which are considered violations of official regulations.

Earlier, a joint operation was conducted at Shiberdangi Bazar, where authorities seized 71 sacks of government rice from a warehouse. A mobile court, led by the Assistant Commissioner (Land), fined the owner of Fatema Traders and a media professional Tk 50,000 for the irregularities. The seized rice was later handed over to Rajibpur Police Station and subsequently distributed among local orphanages and madrasas as part of a humanitarian initiative.

However, the accused has denied all allegations, claiming that the rice belonged to a food-friendly program dealership under his mother’s name. He stated that most of the rice had already been distributed ahead of Eid, and the remaining stock included rice returned or sold by beneficiaries.

Officials have confirmed that the matter is still under investigation. The show cause notice instructs the concerned individual to provide a satisfactory explanation within a stipulated time, failing which further legal action may be taken.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion in the locality. While allegations of corruption and irregularities continue to surface, the redistribution of the seized rice among the needy has been viewed as a humanitarian gesture. Authorities emphasize that the final outcome will depend on the ongoing investigation.