Pirojpur Correspondent :
A team of Coast Guard arrested 15 accused and detained an oil tanker during alleged smuggling fuel on Kacha River near Kawkhali River Port under Pirojpur district and brought them to Barisal on Thursday.
They informed that the vessel MT Rashed Enterprise belongs to former home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and his business partner Babul Chisti.
Shahidul Islam, master, Md. Raju, Ziaur Rahman and Md. Faruk, staffs of the oil tanker were, released after interrogation to operate the tanker.
The detained 15 accused were Ansaruddin, Md. Jahangir of Kachuakathi, Abdus Salam of Dasherkathi, Md. Faruk of Kumian under Kawkhali upazila of Pirojpur, alleged oil smugglers, Nasiruddin, Didarul Islam, Md. Shahin, Md. Suman, Md. Shafi, Md. Mohsin, Nure Alam, Md. Sayed, Abdus Samad, Sekandar Bhuiyan, staffs, Shahiduzzaman, supervisor of the oil tanker.
The arrested accused Shahiduzzaman, supervisor of the vessel, in interrogation acknowledged about attempted oil smuggling, said the Coast Guard officials.
Lt. Iftekhar Hossain, staff officer (operation) Coast Guard southern zone, disclosing these facts said on basis of tip-offs about oil smuggling from ship or tankers a patrol team of Coast Guard took position on Kacha channel of Kaukhali on Wednesday evening.
The law enforcers on Wednesday night succeeded to nab oil smugglers red handed while they loading oil from the oil tanker MT Rashed Enterprise to drums for carrying on trawlers.
Oil tanker MT Rashed Enterprise carrying 16.73 lakh liters diesel from depot of Chittagong and going to Khulna depot of Jamuna Oil Company.
The smugglers during raid already filled 17 out of carried 35 drums to smuggle 8.5 thousand liter oil with carrying capacity of 230 liters in per drum.
A case would be lodged in this connection by Md. Shahnewaz, chief petty officer of Coast Guard as complainant, said the Cosat Guard operation officer Lt. Iftekhar.
Shakhawat Hossain, Barisal Kotwali Police Station officer in charge, said decision about the detained oil tanker would be taken after lodging the case.
