Mystery of BIWTC robbery not unveiled yet

Anisur Rahman Khan :
The mystery of robbery in Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation’s (BIWTC) third dockyard in Nabiganj Uttar Noadda area under Narayanganj’s Bandar Police Station couldn’t be unveiled yet in last 18 days.
Though Bandar Police arrested two persons on February 12, two days after the incidents, the main culprits are still remained untouched, according to the BIWTC officials.
However, the internal probe committee of BIWTC led by its Finance Officer couldn’t yet start working to investigate the reasons of the incidents. A section of BIWTC officials, allegedly behind the incident, are trying to mislead the investigation by delaying, according to BIWTC sources.
According to the case filed on February 12 with the Bandar Police Station by its Office Assistant Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan, a gang of robbers entered the dockyard in between 2:30am to 4:00am on February 11.
During that time, vandalizing the lock of its office room and furniture, riveter shop and welding workshop, they looted cash Tk60,000, a computer, a laptop, a scanner, parts of CC cameras, PABX machine and its spare parts, register book, welding and wiring cables and a chain of worth Tk3 lakh.
After filing the case, police operated a drive immediately and arrested two persons from Sonakanda area of the same police stations. They are- Mohsin alias Muissa, 32, son of Nasir Uddin Miah and Jakir Hossain, 35, son of Saifur Rahman of Siddhirganj Pathantuli.
When contacted, Officer in Charge of Bandar Police Station Abu Bakar Siddique told this correspondent that they are working sincerely to unveil the mystery of the incident and operating drives. Two persons were already arrested and they are being interrogated. The rest would also be arrested soon.
When contacted, BIWTC Chairman SM Ferdous Alam, also additional secretary of Shipping Ministry, told this correspondent that they have already taken legal steps in this regard. After filing case, police started investigating the incident. A probe body was also formed. Necessary further steps would be taken against the responsible persons of the corporation after getting the investigation report.
When contacted, BIWTC’s Director (Technical) Rashedul Islam, also responsible for the dockyards, told this correspondent that they have taken legal steps and formed a probe body. Until completion of investigation, nothing could be said. However, they will consider all issues during the investigation.
Meanwhile, the BIWTC Workers Union claimed that it’s a pre-planned incident of stealing. A section of employees of the dockyard are directly involved with the incident to destroy the image of the government.
In a letter sent to the BIWTC Chairman on February 12, Union’s General Secretary Jakir Hossain Chunnu claimed that Dockyard-3 employees Bahauddin, mechanic Aktar, welder Shakil, carpenter Shamim, mechanic Sabuj, workers Kiron, Joynal and Salam and Oli and their leaders Mohsin and Sayem Mreedha are directly involved with the incident.
The letter also claimed the dockyard was updated expending around Tk23 crore recently. BIWTC Additional Chief Engineer Manjus Kanti Debnath, who went on post retirement leave recently, was the project director of the project implemented with the own fund of the corporation. There are allegations of irregularities and corruption of around Tk13 crore against Manjus Kanti.
Had the incident of robbery been cooked to hide the corruption of Mr Kanti? This doubt has also surfaced surrounding the incident.
When a report published recently in a newspaper, the Shipping Ministry has sent several letters to BIWTC for explaining the matter in detail. But, the concern department of the corporation ignored the matter and refrained of giving any reply to the ministry. The ministry has recently sent a letter warning the authority to respond positively with detail information about the irregularities and corruption.
To avoid responding to the ministry’s letter and saving the persons involved with the irregularities and corruption in the project, a drama of pre-planned robbery was made on the day, it claimed.
However, former Project Director Manjus Kanti Debnath couldn’t be reached over phone.