Lohagara Upazila Nirbahi Officer seized 16 metric tonnes of rice meant for General Relief (GR) from a truck in front of Bardia Bazar warehouse in Narail yesterday afternoon. Lohagara UNO Selim Reza said instead of distributing the rice among the ultra poor, a few dishonest people of Kotakhol union council were smuggling this to Khulna by the truck. Based on secret information, the rice-loaded truck was seized yesterday.  Arrested truck driver Tarikul Islam said, "I have been asked to carry the rice- loaded truck to Rupsha of Khulna.” But he remained silent when he was asked to tell the name of the person who made contact with him.  Food godown in-charge Mohammad Ali said he is out of the warehouse during the time and not involved in the matter.