Law enforcers seized 185 kg of cheap rated rice meant for the poor from a shop at Burimari village in Patgram upazila of the district on Sunday.

Being informed by the villagers, police raided the shop on Sunday afternoon and seized the rice.

Owner of the shop Abu Sayeed Munshi, however, fled the scene, sensing the police raid.

A case was filed with Patgram Police Station against Abu Sayeed and dealer Dulal Hossain, also president of ward no 9 unit of Awami League, under Special Tribunal Act the same night, said Officer-in-Charge (investigation) Mahfuzur Rahman of the police station.

Quoting locals, police said Dulal Hossain sold the rice to Abu Sayeed instead of distributing it among the beneficiaries.

Seeing the anomalies, villagers besieged the shop and informed the police, the OC said.

Police said they raided the shop on the basis of several allegations from ration card holders that they were being deprived of buying rice at Tk 10 per kilogram.

Abu Sayeed told this correspondent over mobile phone that he did not agree to purchase the cheap rated rice meant for the poor but Dulal forced him to keep the rice in his shop.

Despite repeated calls over cellphone, Dulal could not be reached as his phone was found switched off.