Machineries, other valuable materials stolen from sunken pontoon

Bagerhat Correspondent :
The salvation work of a pontoon of BIWTC (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation) which sank in the river Mongla under Mongla Port town in Bagerhat district 4 months ago already started recently. As a result, the movement of cargo ships, lighter ships and other water vessels will be able to ply in Mongla-Ghasiakhali Bangbandhu international canal without any risk. But before the completion of the salvation work of the pontoon its machineries and other valuable materials worth about Tk.50 lakh were already stolen or looted.
It ia learnt from a source of the BIWTC that the pontoon which was placed at Kmarkhali steamer Ghat in Mongla Port town left abandoned sank in the middle of the river Mongla at the night of October 24 in the year 2022 when the cyclone Sitrang swept over the costal district Bagerhat. So, in order to clear Bangabandhu international BIWTC invited a tender in the month of last December (2922) for the salvation of the sunken pontoon. On February 12, 2023 BIWTC issued an office order in favour of M/S.
Anfilla Traders of Dhaka to salvage the sunken pontoon and accordingly the contractor farm started the salvation work of the pontoon on February 14.
But by this time an allegation was raised by BIWTC authorities that various machineries and other valuable materials of the pontoon and the steamer Ghat like iron chains, iron pillars, ropes, anchors, wooden stares etc. worth about Tk.50 lakh were looted or stolen by a gang of smugglers.
In this connection Md. Shamsul Haq, Assistant Manaer and Executive Engineer of BIWTC, Barishal Zone lodged a complaint with Mongla PS on February 26. There is an allegation raised by the local people that just after the starting of the salvation works the workers of the contractor farm looted those materials in a broad daylight and taken away by a truck before their eyes.
In connection with the matter Md. Billal Hossain, Manger of the contractor farm M/S, Anfilla Traders told, after starting the salvation work of the sunken pontoon some materials were taken away by our workers and we will bear the demurrage as per the decision of BIWTC while Md. Shamsul Haq, Assistant Manaer and Executive Engineer of BIWTC, Barishal Zone told, the machineries and other materials of the pontoon and steamer Ghat were taken away by the workers of the contractor farm the demurrage will be deducted from the security money of the contractor farm.
The Executive Engineer added, the matter was brought to the notice of the higher authorities and if any body of our department is found involved in this affair departmental action will be taken against him.