A Narayanganj magistrate yesterday seized 11,186 sacks of rotten Indian wheat from the Nitaiganj wholesale market and arrested nine people for alleged involvement in the import process of the wheat.

Magistrate Habib Mohammad Halimuzzaman conducted the drive at Machhuabazar jetty at about 2:00pm and seized 2,586 sacks of rotten wheat from "Golden Sun", an anchored cargo on the Shitalakkha river.

The magistrate also seized 8,600 sacks of wheat from a store on the bank of the river.

Such rotten wheat is mixed with eatable wheat in different mills at Nitaiganj, sources said.

Two inspectors of the Directorate of Food confirmed that the wheat was not edible, Officer-in-Charge of Narayanganj Police Station Abdul Hannan said, adding that a case was filed under the Special Power Act of 1974.

The arrested nine employees of the cargo said Razzak Traders, a business firm of Nitaiganj, purchased the wheat from Noapara of Jessore and the cargo hadjust carriedit from there.

They, however, failed to show any invoice of the imported wheat.

When the magistrate accompanied by police went to Razzak Traders, he found the office under lock and key, he said, adding that the owner of the firm is now absconding.

After seizing rotten wheat from

there, the magistrate sealed the store of the firm.

Earlier on August 1, Magistrate Faridul Islam Mojumder seized 360 sacks of rotten wheat from a truck at the entrance of Nitaiganj and arrested a businessman.

Investigation reveals that a powerful syndicate is involved in importing such rotten wheat from India.

After being mixed with good wheatin mills, the wheat powder is sold, generally in the northern districts, sources said.

On the labels of the previously seized sacks of wheat, the magistrate found "this is for cattle", whereas there were not any importer of fodder as Narayanganj Municipality did not issue anylicense for suchimport.