Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file cases against some 13 persons including Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman and nine other officials of the authority on the charge of anomalies in leasing three launch terminals of the country.
The terminals are Nagarbari Ghat, Doulatdia Ghat and Kazirhat Ghat.
Other three accused of the case are- lessees of the three terminals Sohag, Emon and Rafiq.
The approval was given on Tuesday to file the case against the 13 persons after primary investigation. After filing the case, the investigation officer of the ACC will conduct final investigation in the matter.
ACC’s Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Alias Hossain conducted the primary investigation. The case is likely to be filed within a day or two, according to the ACC sources.
According to the allegations, the 10 persons were charged for leasing the terminals in 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years with smaller amount than the usual fees could be taken from the lessees. During the primary investigation, the investigation officer has primarily found some anomalies regarding the allegations brought against the accused and initial findings placed before the commission for its decision to file the case.
According to the ACC and BIWTA sources, former Awami League lawmaker from Pabna Khandker Azizul Haque Arzu filed the complaint to the ACC for investigation raising the allegation of irregularities in leasing the ghats and charging fewer than the usual fees.
The BIWTA officials, however, claimed preferring anonymity that they were not involved with any irregularity in leasing the terminals during the period. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they couldn’t lease the terminals with proper fees and were compelled to lease those with smaller amount of fees.
Sources, however, alleged that the petitioner brought the allegations against BIWTA officials for failing to get the lease of the ghats (terminal).
