Illegal hoarders must face jail, if not mend: Sadhan Chandra

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday warned against illegal hoarding and said if they [the hoarders] do not rectify themselves, they will have to go to jail.

"Illegal hoarders would not spare only to realize penalty...they have to go jail if they do not correct themselves," he said.

The food minister made this statement while he was exchanging views with people's representatives and district officials of Naogaon district administrator's conference room here this morning.

To bring the rice price to a tolerable limit, he said the traders must have to change their attitude of making extra profit, adding: "Millers, wholesalers, retailers' corporate houses are equally responsible behind the rice price hike."

Talking about public food distribution, Majumder said: "Food distribution remains underway under the Open Market Sale (OMS), particularly for the common people. The digital card has been prepared and the OMS will be distributed soon through the cards which will ultimately stop the repetition of rice taking by a particular person."

After approval of the new act, the government could be able to take strict action against the illegal hoarders, the food minister noted.

The "Production, Storage, Transfer, Transportation, Supply, Distribution and Marketing of Food Products (Prevention of Prejudicial Activity) Bill, 2023" with a provision of maximum life imprisonment for illegal hoarding of foodstuff already has been passed in the parliament, he said.

Now the enactment of rules is going on.

The food minister also asked the Director General of the Department of Food to issue an order to cancelling leave and weekly holidays of the food department employees during the anti-hoarding drive.

Chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Naogaon Mohammad Golam Mawla, the view-exchange meeting also attended, among others, by different district-level officials, Civil Surgeon of the district Abu Hena Md Raihanuzzaman Sarker, Upzila Parishad Chairmen, Upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO) and media representatives.