In complete defiance of orders from the High Court and the shipping ministry, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) allegedly leased out vast tracts of shores and foreshores of different rivers around the capital in the last three years. BIWTA Chairman Samsuddoha Khondaker allegedly made these deals in an underhand way after assuming office in October 2011, according to a set of alle
gations the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is looking into. The HC in a verdict in June 2009 asked the government to protect all rivers in the country from land grabbers. Three months later, the shipping ministry decided to cancel the leases and not to lease out shores and foreshores any more. But the BIWTA allowed a cement factory to use 22.99 acres of foreshore of the Shitalakkhya river in Narayanganj in May 2012, and an individual 0.19 acres on the Turag in Savar in February last year. Besides, it has "temporarily allocated" 4,400 square feet inside the Buckland Bund on the Buriganga, five acres near Amin Bazaar landing station and 0.67 acre at Showarighat to individuals illegally, according to the allegations submitted by a group of complainants. Also, unspecified areas of shores and foreshores were leased out to two real estate companies at Basila in Mohammadpur. The ACC officials, who provided the details of the allegations to The Daily Star on condition of anonymity, chose to withhold the names of the complainants. Advertisement The commission has started inquiring into the allegations of corruption, amassing wealth illegally and money laundering against the chairman in September last year, said an ACC official. Samsuddoha allegedly misappropriated a large amount of money from dredging projects on Takerhat to Madirpur route in the Kumar river, Mawa-Charjanajat and Paturia-Daulatdia routes in the Padma, and Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel. He is also accused of recruiting people in the BIWTA either in exchange of money or through nepotism, the official said. Besides, he allegedly indulged in corruption in establishing the Deck Engine Personnel Training Centre in Barisal and Ship Personnel Training Institute in Madaripur, procuring vehicles and dredgers, refurnishing BIWTA offices and appointing contractors for goods transportation at Sadarghat, Nayabazar and Kadamtoli terminals, he added. Some aggrieved persons around five months ago submitted these allegations before the ACC and appealed for investigation into these, said the ACC sources. Later on September 22 last year, the commission appointed its deputy director Farid Ahmed Patowary to investigate the allegations. Patowary sent three letters between September 28 and November 6, requesting the BIWTA chairman to submit some documents, including his bank statements, tax documents and all records of movable and immovable properties belonging to him, his wife and other family members or dependants. However, instead of providing those, Samsuddoha appealed to the ACC to change the inquiry officer, following which Assistant Director SK Abdus Salam of the commission replaced Patowary last December. Salam wrote to the BIWTA chief towards the end of December to provide the documents on an urgent basis. "But the chairman did not do it. Now, I will send a letter again tomorrow [today]," Salam told The Daily Star yesterday. Samsuddoha, however, denied all the allegations and told The Daily Star that "some corrupt BIWTA officials", who got punishment for misdeeds, are out to tarnish the image of the government and the BIWTA. "They [ACC] can investigate any allegations. We certainly will provide whatever documents they want," he added. Meanwhile, environmental organisation National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways at a discussion at Mukti Bhaban in the capital yesterday demanded proper investigation into the allegations and removal of the BIWTA chairman and other corrupt officials.
No comments:
Post a Comment