Police in Sherpur city have seized 33 tonnes and 100 kilograms of government food-friendly programme rice from a rice processing mill.
They also arrested a trader in connection with the incident.
The operation took place around midnight on Thursday at Jebin Rice Processing Mill in the Chapatoli area of the town.
The arrested person is Borhan Uddin (32), son of Babul Mia from the Kasba Kathgara area of the city.
Police said they conducted the raid based on secret information that large quantities of government rice stored in 30-kilogram sacks were being transferred into other bags.
During the operation, officers seized 33,100 kilograms of government rice from the mill and arrested Borhan Uddin.
The raid was led by Md Mahmudul Hasan, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Sadar Upazila and Executive Magistrate.
Officials suspect that the rice, allocated under the government’s food-friendly programme for the extremely poor, was being stored for illegal sale on the black market.
Police also said Borhan Uddin had previously faced allegations of irregularities involving government rice.
Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, Sohel Rana, said investigations were underway to determine how the rice was stored at the mill and whether others were involved.
He added that legal action was being prepared in connection with the incident.
