Police have arrested two people in connection with alleged irregularities and the supply of substandard and spoiled food under the government’s school feeding (mid-day meal) programme in Madaripur Sadar upazila.
The arrested individuals are AFM Ahsanul Habib, 51, a resident of Gafargaon upazila in Mymensingh, and Md Nuruzzaman, 43, a resident of Bakerganj upazila in Barishal.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Education, the arrests were made following a case filed over irregularities in the programme.
The duo were reportedly responsible officials of a company named Samata Traders and were directly involved in supplying food for students under the school feeding initiative.
Investigators found preliminary evidence of their involvement in distributing rotten and substandard food items under the school feeding programme, prompting Madaripur Sadar Police to arrest them.
Police said the arrests were made from the Chandmari area of Madaripur municipality. After preliminary interrogation, they were produced before the court.
Earlier, several students fell ill after consuming mid-day meals at different schools in Madaripur Sadar and Chapainawabganj Sadar upazilas. The incident was widely reported in the media, triggering swift government action against those responsible.
Following the incident, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon directed the district administrations of Madaripur and Chapainawabganj to form investigation committees involving civil surgeons.
He also instructed authorities to take immediate legal action against those found responsible.
