The parliamentary standing committee on ministry of shipping (MoS) has decided to investigate irregularities in Chittagong port as allegations of corruption mount, sources said.
A three-member sub-committee, led by M Abdul Latif, MP, will investigate the irregularities in manpower recruitment, procurement of ambulance, equipments and container vessels, installation of CTMS (Container Terminal Management System), and VTIMS (Vessel Traffic Information Management System).
The other members of the committee are: Nurul Islam Sujon, MP and Anwarul Azim (Anar), MP.
Sources said the sub-committee was formed in the first meeting of the committee late last month after M Abdul Latif, MP raised the issue of massive irregularities in the port.
He told the meeting that recently some 1,600 people were appointed in Chittagong port. Mr Latif received allegations of irregularities in the recruitment process and no master roll employee working for long was regularised.
He said the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has given work order of Tk 160 million to buy some equipment which another government agency bought at only Tk 35 million. Besides, the port recently bought a water ambulance at a cost of Tk 200 million. The price is much higher than actual rate, he alleged.
In the meeting, he said allegation of irregularities has mounted in the process of procurement of crocodile excavator and container vessels for Pangaon Inland Container Terminal and installation of CTMS and VTIMS. "Full payment has already been made in some cases though the projects were not completed," he added.
He said construction of the New Mooring Container Terminal ended in 2007 at a cost of Tk 5.82 billion but it was not made fully functional even after seven years.
Mr Latif told the FE that the committee will soon start investigation to unearth the alleged corruption in Chittagong port.
He said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has bought four crocodile excavators at Tk 210 million. Each excavator had cost the BIWTA Tk 52.5 million but the Chittagong port has given work order of Tk 200 million for each of them.
Mr Latif said only part of installation work of the CTMS has so far been completed but the bills were paid to the supplier in full.
"Many projects have not been completed accordingly. But the public money was spent without following the government rules," he said.
Mr Latif said the JS body will work to ensure transparency in public spending and accountability of government officials.
Terminal and installation of CTMS and VTIMS. "Full payment has already been made in some cases though the projects were not completed," he added.
He said construction of the New Mooring Container Terminal ended in 2007 at a cost of Tk 5.82 billion but it was not made fully functional even after seven years.
Mr Latif told the FE that the committee will soon start investigation to unearth the alleged corruption in Chittagong port.
He said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has bought four crocodile excavators at Tk 210 million. Each excavator had cost the BIWTA Tk 52.5 million but the Chittagong port has given work order of Tk 200 million for each of them.
Mr Latif said only part of installation work of the CTMS has so far been completed but the bills were paid to the supplier in full.
"Many projects have not been completed accordingly. But the public money was spent without following the government rules," he said.
Mr Latif said the JS body will work to ensure transparency in public spending and accountability of government officials.
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