13 BIWTA staff stands released after surprise visit

The Ministry of Shipping has taken immediate action against 16 officials and employees of BIWTA and BIWTC after State Minister for Shipping Md Rajib Ahsan found irregularities during surprise inspections.

The officials and employees were punished for remaining absent from their workplaces without prior permission and for arriving late to office, according to a press release signed by ministry public relations officer Kazi Arif Billah on Friday.

Of them, 13 officials and employees of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority were stand released from its Barishal office.

They include nine from the dredging department, two from the marine conservation and operation department, one from the port and transport department, and one from the accounts department. Three officials and employees of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation were also transferred immediately over negligence of duty.

Ministry sources said the state minister recently conducted surprise visits to several offices and agencies under the ministry in Barishal and Dhaka.

During the inspections, he found that some employees were absent without permission while others arrived long after the scheduled office time.
The state minister expressed strong dissatisfaction over the irregularities and ordered immediate administrative action against those responsible.

He also directed all officials and employees under the ministry to attend office on time and perform their duties with full professionalism.

The ministry said such surprise inspections will continue to ensure discipline, accountability and better public service in government offices.