Truck Driver and Assistant Arrested with 20 Tonnes of Illicit Government Rice in Netrakona
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NETRAKONA, BANGLADESH — Authorities in Netrakona intercepted a major smuggling attempt late Thursday night, seizing a truck loaded with approximately 20 tonnes of government rice intended for sale on the black market. Police law enforcement personnel arrested the truck driver and his assistant during the targeted operation in the Hanskundi Maidam area along the Netrakona-Madan road.
The arrested driver has been identified as Shamim Mia, 32, a resident of the Chhotogara area under Netrakona Sadar Upazila, and his assistant as Shaheen Mia, 34, hailing from the Shambhuganj area in Mymensingh. Netrakona District Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam confirmed the development, detailing that the truck was carrying 667 sacks of rice stamped with official government seals when it was intercepted.
According to police and local sources, the DNC and local police acting on a tip-off raided a section of the road in front of the Samya Filling Station at around 10:00 PM. The cargo truck was operating out of Madan Upazila and was allegedly bound for the Bausi Talukdar Rice Mill in Barhatta Upazila. Upon intercepting the vehicle, the driver completely failed to produce any valid dispatch documents, delivery challans, or authorization permits to justify transporting the state relief food supply.
Madan Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shaolin Nahar rushed to the scene to inspect the cargo and formally verified that the seized grains belonged strictly to the government’s food reserves. Following her executive order to confiscate the illegal shipment, police took the truck, the full inventory of rice, and both crew members into formal police custody. Efforts to contact the Officer-in-Charge of the Madan Upazila local food warehouse, Mahmudul Alam, went unanswered as his official mobile number was found switched off following the seizure.
Madan Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Bedboti Mistri stated that the Assistant Commissioner (Land) and the Upazila Food Controller have been strictly instructed to file a regular criminal case against all individuals involved in the illegal diversion of state property. While Madan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Tariqul Islam could not be reached immediately for comments, Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam reiterated that initial interrogations firmly point toward an organized black-market sale, and a comprehensive investigation is underway to unmask the broader government food warehouse syndicate driving the illicit trade.
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