Ex-CG adviser Matin asked to pay Tk 250m to port operator

A Dhaka court has asked former adviser to the caretaker government (CG) for shipping MA Matin and former secretary of the ministry Sheikh Motahar Hossain to pay Tk 250 million in compensation to the Everest Enterprise, a Chittagong seaport berth operator, reports bdnews24.com. Second Joint District Court Judge Mohammad Mohsinul Haque paned the order Thursday following a money suit filed by the operator's Chief Executive Shahadat Hossain Selim on September 1, 2009. The court also stated that the duo would also have to pay the cost the plaintiff incurred in running the court case. The court directed, if needed, the plaintiff will be able to sell the property of the defendants to realise the stated amount. If the cost is still not adequately covered with that amount, he could appeal to the court to keep them behind the bars, according to the order. The operator on August 24 said it would seek compensation through the court from Mr Matin over alleged irregularities in the allocation of a container handling contract at Chittagong Container Terminal in January, 2009 for financial and goodwill losses after failing to win the contract despite being the lowest bidder. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry on August 30, 2009 approved a probe report submitted by the sub-committee on the former adviser's corruption in the container management deal at Chittagong Port. The standing committee unanimously accepted the report of the parliamentary sub-committee that found "massive irregularities" committed by Mr Matin and eight others on the last day of his office on January 6, 2009. But Mr Matin said he did nothing wrong. The committee mentioned the tender was not invited properly in line with the government rules and the CPA did not hold any board meeting before awarding the contract. Besides, false certificate was given in favour of Ishaq Brothers, a "novice" company.