Police have arrested one of the country’s leading rice producers and traders also alleged manipulator of rice price Abdur Rashid.
Police arrested Rashid at 5:30:pm from the Rathkhola area on NS Road in Kushtia on Saturday.
Rashid is the proprietor of several companies, including Rashid Agro Limited in Khajanagar, Kushtia—the country's second-largest rice production hub. He also serves as president of Bangladesh Rice Mill Owners Association (Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners Association).
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kushtia Model Police Station, Shihabur Rahman, stated that Rashid faces three cases of check fraud. One of these cases led to an arrest warrant issued on September 17 by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Rajshahi.
The OC added that the other two cases against Rashid were filed in Kushtia, with warrants issued by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in September.
Rashid, known as "Chal Rashid" in some circles, is accused of being a key figure in a rice price syndicate that manipulated market rates under his influence.
Fraud Case Background/
Rashid was arrested in a case filed by Atikur Rahman, the owner of Rajshahi's Enam Feed Mill. Rahman accused Rashid of embezzling 13,364,867 BDT after accepting the amount in advance for raw materials but failing to deliver the goods or refund the money. Following this, the court issued a warrant against Rashid on September 17, 2024.
Long-Standing Allegations/
Reports indicate that Rashid and his family face close to 100 cases, including accusations of evading loans from several banks, such as Sonali Bank and Islami Bank. These financial irregularities have sparked public outrage and questions about police efficacy, as Rashid had continued his business activities despite multiple warrants.
Bank officials, on condition of anonymity, revealed that Rashid’s influence as a powerful rice trader allowed him to ignore loan repayment notices for years, prompting various banks to file a total of 68 lawsuits against him and his family.
Police Statement/
Kushtia Model Police Station OC Shihabur Rahman confirmed Rashid's arrest under CR 643/23 and described him as a fugitive.
Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman stated on Saturday night that all legal measures would be taken to ensure justice, emphasizing that no criminal would be spared.