ACC to probe irregularities in leasing Barisal port
Friday, 18 December 2009
BARISAL, Dec 17 (UNB): Barisal office Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) of Tuesday asked the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to submit the documents after investigating the allegation about corruption and irregularities in leasing of Barisal Port.
Nazrul Islam, ACC deputy director of Barisal, said a letter had been sent to BIWTA chairman through proper channel in this connection recently.
ACC sources said Nur Shah Ahmad Ali Samrat, a contractor, alleged to ACC that he submitted tender for a lease of two stations of the port for fiscal 2009-10 by offering Tk 20,500 per day as lease money, which became the highest bid.
But the BIWTA without showing any reason rejected his offer and started operating the two stations under separate arrangement by accepting bid of only Tk 12,000 per day.
The rejected bidder claimed that labour wing of the ruling party had been operating the two stations as per the underhand arrangement with the BIWTA authority.
The stations were not only leased on low rates, but a large amount of money became arrear due to the lessees in the names of different organisations, associations and cooperative societies patronised by ruling political party, he added.
He also claimed that the underhand arrangement was causing losses of public fund by at least Tk 8,000 per day and at least by Tk 2,40,000 per month.
Acknowledging the facts, Mustafizur Rahman, acting port officer of the division, declined to give detailed information about the matter. He said they are yet to receive any directives from the higher authorities to submit bid-documents before the ACC.
Nazrul Islam, ACC deputy director of Barisal, said a letter had been sent to BIWTA chairman through proper channel in this connection recently.
ACC sources said Nur Shah Ahmad Ali Samrat, a contractor, alleged to ACC that he submitted tender for a lease of two stations of the port for fiscal 2009-10 by offering Tk 20,500 per day as lease money, which became the highest bid.
But the BIWTA without showing any reason rejected his offer and started operating the two stations under separate arrangement by accepting bid of only Tk 12,000 per day.
The rejected bidder claimed that labour wing of the ruling party had been operating the two stations as per the underhand arrangement with the BIWTA authority.
The stations were not only leased on low rates, but a large amount of money became arrear due to the lessees in the names of different organisations, associations and cooperative societies patronised by ruling political party, he added.
He also claimed that the underhand arrangement was causing losses of public fund by at least Tk 8,000 per day and at least by Tk 2,40,000 per month.
Acknowledging the facts, Mustafizur Rahman, acting port officer of the division, declined to give detailed information about the matter. He said they are yet to receive any directives from the higher authorities to submit bid-documents before the ACC.