Staff Reporter :
The probe committee formed by the Shipping Ministry led by Additional Secretary Sanjoy Kumar Banik, to investigate the reasons for inner conflict, identify irregularities, corruption in the Establishment of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System and Integrated Maritime Navigation System (EGIMNS) project and also on allegations of misusing power and awarding work orders to associates and relatives raised against the Director General of Department of Shipping (DoS), submitted its probe report to the ministry’s Secretary Mostafa Kamal on Wednesday.
The report would be placed before State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and it would be revealed publicly soon, according to the probe body and ministry sources.
The probe committee completed its hearing on May 3 by hearing the statements of DG Shipping Commodore Md Nizamul Haque and 15 local contractors and sub-contractors and two foreign contractors of the ‘EGIMNS project under the Shipping Ministry.
During meeting with the Ministry’s Secretary Mostafa Kamal, the Korean Ambassador to Dhaka Lee Jang-keun requested him to complete the probe quickly and conclude the project work within its stipulated time, June, 2024. The Korean government is partially financing the project and implementing by a Korean company.
A ministry source said that the statements of all conflicting parties – the DG Shipping, Project Director Abu Sayed Mohammad Delowar Rahman and all contractors and sub-contractors – were included in the report and the DG was made accused for interrupting the project works for his personal interest. When contacted ministry’s Additional Secretary Sanjoy Kumar Banik, also head of the five-member probe committee, denied making any comment on the probe report.
On April 26, the Shipping Ministry formed the probe body to find out reasons for inner conflict and identify the irregularities and corruption in its EGIMNS Project and investigate the allegations of misusing the power and giving works to his associates and relatives raised against the DG Shipping.
The two-year EGIMNS Project was taken in 2014 to install lighthouses and radio stations at Dublarchar under Bagerhat, Dhalchar under Bhola, Nijhumdweep under Noakhali and Kuakata under Patuakhali districts and modernizing three old lighthouses and radio stations in Cox’s Bazar, Saint Martins’ and Kutubdia islands for providing assistance to inland and coastal vessels at a cost of around Tk 370.89 crore. But, the project work started in 2018 after removing all difficulties.
During the period, duration of the project was extended thrice and cost rose to Tk 779.49 crore.
