Officials, employees and contractors under ACC's strict surveillanceAwami League supporters still active in BIWTA

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The accused Rahim-Shajahan syndicate is desperate to cover up the incident of a viral video of a public bribe in the room of Abdur Rahim (Marine), Additional Director of BIWTA's Naval Conservation and Management Department.

The bribery video has caused work to stall and panic among officials, employees and contractors. It is learnt that Brigadier (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping, is personally overseeing the matter.

Meanwhile, in this incident, the ACC's enforcement team conducted a raid at BIWTA on September 10.

BIWTA sources say that two officials of the Inland Water Transport Authority have been temporarily suspended on charges of accepting bribes to award fuel oil supply contracts. However, although the two officials have been suspended, the mastermind of this bribery scheme, BIWTA's Director of Naval Conservation and Management Department Md. Shajahan, remains in office.

It is alleged that two officers of the Naval Conservation and Management Department were suspended on charges of taking bribes. Director Md. Shajahan is the cashier. Recently, a video of people taking bribes in the room of BIWTA's Additional Director (Marine) Md. Abdur Rahim, the Neval Conservation and Management Department, went viral on social media. On the same day, Additional Director Md. Abdur Rahim accepted a large bribe in exchange for getting work done by a contractor that supplies various ships of BIWTA. Although the incident was known, BIWTA covered it up for mysterious reasons. When the ACC's enforcement team conducted a raid on this incident on September 10, the ministry suspended the two officers.

The notification said that an incident related to bribery in exchange for providing fuel oil contracting work to the BIWTA's Naval Conservation and Management Department has come to the attention of the Shipping Ministry. In view of this, on the instructions of the Ministry's Advisor M Sakhawat Hossain, the Additional Director (Marine) of that department, Md. Abdur Rahim and Deputy Director Md. Obaidul Karim Khan have been temporarily suspended.

At the same time, a committee has been formed to uncover the truth as the real mastermind of this incident is out of reach through investigation. It has also been decided to take departmental action against the officials involved.

ACC Deputy Director Md. Akhtarul Islam told this reporter that the contractor was given the responsibility to supply oil to BIWTA. Recently, a video went viral, showing bribery being exchanged in the room of an official of the Marine Department. The ACC's enforcement team will investigate and submit a report on the matter.

A source in BIWTA said that Additional Director (Marine) of the Naval Conservation and Management Department Md. Abdur Rahim and Assistant Director Obaidul Karim (Narayanganj) are basically close to the director of that department Md. Shajahan. Abdur Rahim and Obaidul Karim took bribes from that department as cashiers of Shajahan. The issue of giving work to various contracting companies in exchange for bribes was mediated by two dismissed officials Abdur Rahim and Obaidul Karim on behalf of Director Shajahan. Abdur Rahim works in the Naval Conservation and Management Department of Narayanganj BIWTA. Rahim is in charge of various tasks including distribution of oil to ships and maintenance of the port.

Sources said that Director Md. Shajahan has been serving in the same chair in the Naval Conservation and Management Department for the past 10 years. There are allegations that people from his area have been posted in that department, creating a haven for corruption and bribery.

On the recommendation of former Naval Minister Shajahan Khan, Md. Shajahan was appointed as the Director of the Naval Conservation and Management Department. Since then, he has held this chair. Although there are allegations of bribery and corruption against him, BIWTA has not been able to take any action.

There have also been allegations that an unnamed person, who is a relative of the chairman, has lobbied for this contracting work. The affected contractors have said that Additional Director Abdur Rahim and Director Shajahan have single-handedly dominated the department.

On September 7, police arrested former BIWTA chairman and former Additional IGP Shamsuddoha Khandaker from Nawabganj, Dhaka. He was arrested from his own resort "Wonderland Green Park". Nawabganj Police Station OC Mominul Islam said that
this former high-ranking police officer was notorious for corruption for a long time. Especially while serving as the chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), he embezzled hundreds of crores of taka in the form of commission from tenders for various river dredging projects. In addition, he also extorted huge money from the owners of industries built by encroaching on rivers. With these illegal incomes, he built a farmhouse on more than a hundred bighas of land in Nawabganj. Where several hundred crores of taka have been invested. During his tenure as chairman of BIWTA, he used to behave very badly with his subordinates.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already filed a chargesheet against Shamsuddoha and his wife Ferdousi Sultana in a case of illegal acquisition of wealth. The chargesheet states that evidence has been found of a total of 664.869981 taka of assets acquired secretly and illegally from Shamsuddoha and his wife.

The ACC investigation revealed that Shamsuddoha, while serving as the chairman of BIWTA, misused his power to earn a huge amount of money through dishonest means. This money was deposited through various bank accounts in unusual transactions from suspicious sources. He withdrew Tk 21.525 crore from the bank account and tried to hide the source and ownership of his wealth.

In addition, the submitted asset declaration shows evidence of concealing assets worth Tk 84.4 million 10 thousand 221 and providing false information. The ACC investigation found the existence of another Tk 28.7 million 3 thousand 78 of illegal assets. Based on these allegations, a case has been filed under the ACC Act, 2004 and the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947. Similarly, his wife has been accused of concealing assets worth Tk 28.4 million 3 thousand 891 and acquiring assets worth Tk 27.4 million 48 lakh 82 thousand 491 from undisclosed income.

Investigations revealed that one of the architects of the deadlock at BIWTA is Additional Chief Engineer Sultan Ahmed Khan, nephew of Awami League central leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif. There are murder cases against Sultan in several police stations in the capital, including a case with the ACC. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also an accused in that case.

BIWTA Superintendent Engineer Sultan Ahmed Khan was posted in the Dazing Department of an important organization of the Ministry of Shipping. He had been single-handedly controlling BIWTA for the past 15 years as the nephew of Awami League leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif. Sultan Syndicate controlled transfers, appointments and tender trade. Sultan's trusted confidant is the current General Secretary of Sramik League, Sanjib Kumar Das.
Sultan Ahmed Khan was immediately relieved from the BIWTA Dazing Department on October 2 last year. The file of the allegations against him is locked in the chairman's office.

Sultan, who was appointed as the director of the Pabna and Kushtia dredging projects, looted 12 billion taka of government funds without doing any work. It is alleged that this supervising engineer of the dredging department has looted about 6-7 billion taka by selling soil from the river dredging project. In these incidents, on October 2 last year, supervising engineer Md. Sultan Ahmed Khan was posted to the Shipping Department on a similar post.

Sultan Ahmed Khan entered the BIWTA job completely illegally in 1996. Although the recruitment notice had a strict decision to hire 10 people, the BIWTA authorities were forced to hire a total of 13 people, including person number 13, only because of his uncle's pressure. As a result, the organization had to lose a huge amount of revenue in terms of salary and allowances.

With the blessings of his uncle, he has received one promotion after another with all his might. Sultan is now the owner of hundreds of crores of taka. He lives in a luxurious flat at house number 47, road number 4, sector 3, Uttara. Sultan has built a mountain of wealth in Bhatikaya of Aminpur police station in Pabna.

There are allegations that Sultan has paid a large bribe to the administration to avoid being arrested in a murder case at Bhatara Police Station. It is also rumored that a BNP leader is giving him shelter. Under the influence of that leader, he is saying in various circles that the police will not arrest him because he has people in his upper circle. He will be exempted from the ACC case because a friend of his works in the ACC. Sultan was respected by former Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan and State Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.

ACC sources say that several officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have formed a powerful corruption syndicate for a long time. They have embezzled hundreds of crores of taka through irregularities and corruption in various activities including implementation of various projects, leasing of seaports, river dredging, extraction of sand from rivers, and approval of ship movement.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already taken action against two dozen BIWTA officials and their wives who were involved in bribery, corruption and illegal wealth acquisition. A team from the ACC's enforcement unit is investigating these allegations.

Sources said that seven of those officials made their wives owners of ships and bought assets worth crores of taka to legalize their illegal money. It is learnt that the ACC investigation team is working on the ground against 13 more officials. They have pushed the organization to the brink of losses during the tenure of the fallen government and have become the owners of luxurious houses and mountains of wealth.

According to the ACC, four separate complaints were filed against several BIWTA officials in 2021. In October of the same year, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent a letter to the ACC to investigate the illegal acquisition of wealth against 2 dozen BIWTA officials and their wives and children. After that, the ACC went into the field to investigate the allegations against them.

The ACC's initial investigation found information against a total of 12 people, including 7 officials, for forming a shipping company called Dozen Rose Limited by investing 18 million rupees and purchasing shares in the company in the names of the officers' wives. At the same time, there is information about flats, plots and bank balances in Dhaka and outside Dhaka in the names of their wives.

It is learnt that one of the people against whom the ACC has started investigating the allegations is BIWTA Assistant Director Md. Shafiqul Islam and his wife Shamim Akhter. Shafiqul Islam joined BIWTA as an Assistant Director in 1989. After joining the service, he showed his wife as a small businessman. Shafiqul Islam retired as Director (Secretary) on December 31, 2019. Earlier, on April 11, 2018, he bought shares in a dozen companies every day for Tk 15 lakh in the name of his wife Shamima Akhter. He has a flat with 1,150 square feet and car parking on the second floor of Masum Valley Bhaban in Rajabazar area. He dug a pond and built a tin-slat house on 22 percent of the land in Tarakpur, Kurigram. He has an 850 square feet flat in Dhanmondi. He shows the value of these assets at Tk 23 lakh 80 thousand.

Besides, he has savings certificates worth Tk 80 lakh, shares worth Tk 40 lakh in Legend-10 Shipping Lines, shares worth Tk 19 lakh 25 thousand in MV Goodwill-1, shares worth Tk 10 lakh in Gemstone, a jeep and 15 bhori gold, along with household goods and electronics. His wife Shamima Akhter has 2.5 percent land and 6 shops in Chhaypukuria in Bogra Sadar, a 1230 square foot flat in West Jafrabad, Dhaka, and a 1230 square foot flat in Mohammadpur. Besides, he has shares worth Tk 20 lakh 50 thousand in Rose Dozen Company, Tk 40 lakh in Gemstone Shipping Lines, Tk 48 lakh investment in Reliable Oil Company, a private car and 20 bhori gold, along with furniture and electronics. Shamima Akhter has cleared 1 crore 16 lakh 18 thousand black taka by paying taxes. According to income tax documents, Shafiqul Islam and his wife have assets worth Tk 4 crore 95 lakh. In reality, the value of their assets is much higher. Among these assets, 17.5 million taka is illegal assets.

Allegations against director Rafiqul Islam and his wife Sabiha Parveen

Rafiqul Islam joined as an assistant director in 1992. His wife Sabiha Parveen is a housewife and small businessman. Rafiqul Islam bought Tk 20 lakh shares in a boat named Morning Voyage of Legend-10 Company in 2020 in his wife's name. There is 12 percent of land in the Boalia Thana area of ​​Rajshahi through ancestral sources. He mentioned in his income tax documents that he got 4.95 percent of land in Chhota Bongram of the same thana, a 1,563 square foot flat with parking in Adabor in the capital, a 2-katha plot in a residential project in the capital, 40 percent of land from his brother in Ullapara, Sirajganj, and 25.5 percent from his mother. He said that he got 10.71 percent from the Ejmali property.

He purchased 7.5 percent of land in Kaundia, Savar, in the name of his wife. The two of them have 65 bhoris of gold. Their income tax records show assets of more than Tk 5.36 crore. In reality, the value of these assets is much higher. There is information that there is illegal assets worth Tk 2.40 crore among the assets in their possession.

Joint director Gulzar Ali and his wife's illegal assets

Gulzar Ali joined the service in 1994. He introduced his wife Salma Haque as a small businessman. In January 2017, he bought shares in Legend Shipping Lines worth Tk 20 lakh in his wife's name and in April 2018, he bought shares in Rose Dozen Shipping Company worth Tk 15 lakh. Gulzar Ali has a tin shed house on 4 percent of the land, a share in a housing project of 10 kathas of land and spent Tk 17.5 lakh on building a house there, a deposit of Tk 75 lakh in the bank, a savings certificate worth Tk 10 lakh. He has 5 bhoris of gold, furniture and electronics worth several lakhs of taka. He built a house on his wife Salma Haque's ancestral land at a cost of Tk 30 lakh 15 thousand, and purchased three kathas of land in Atibazar area of ​​Keraniganj. According to the income tax documents, Gulzar Ali and his wife have a net worth of Tk 2 crore 47 lakh. In reality, the value of their assets is several times higher. Among these assets, there are illegal assets worth about half a crore taka. In addition, they have more anonymous assets.

Allegations against Deputy Director Shahidullah and his wife Fatema Parveen

Shahidullah joined the service in 2005. His wife is also a small businessman. In April 2018, he bought shares of a dozen shipping companies in the name of his wife for 15 lakh taka. He sold these shares in 2020. He bought 2 kathas of land in Eastern Housing for 93 lakh taka in 2000. He also owns 1/8 of a 5 katha land in the Joar Sahara project. He has savings certificates worth 28 lakh taka, 48 lakh taka in a bank, prize bonds worth 2.5 lakh taka, and furniture and electronics worth several lakhs of taka. He also purchased 7.5 percent of land in Kaundia, Savar, a 1,602-square-foot flat in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, and 3 kathas of land in Rupganj, Narayanganj, in the name of his wife. The two of them have 68 bhoris of gold. Their assets in the income tax documents are 3 crore 18 lakh taka. In reality, the actual value of the assets they have is several times higher. Among these assets, there are illegal assets worth 1 crore 12 lakh taka. Apart from this, they have anonymous assets.

Allegations against Deputy Director Abu Saleh Qayyum and his wife Mahmuda Akhter

Abu Saleh Qayyum joined the service in 2005. His wife worked in a private company from 2009 to 2020. On January 12, 2017, he purchased shares of Legend Shipping Lines in his wife's name for 2 million taka. He sold those shares in 2022. Abu Saleh received a salary and allowance of 1.4 million taka until June 2023. Of this, family expenses were 5 million taka and 1 thousand taka. He has investments of about 1.4 million taka. He received 10 bhori and his wife 45 bhori gold gifts during marriage. According to income tax documents, the couple's assets are worth 1.7 million taka. Among these assets, there are 2 million taka of illegal assets. In reality, the value of their assets and the amount of illegal assets are much higher.

Allegations against Deputy Director Abu Bakr and his wife Israt Jahan

Abu Bakar Siddique joined as an executive assistant in 1995. He is currently retired. Their income tax records show that they have assets worth Tk 5.2 crore. In reality, their assets are worth Tk 10 to 12 crore. A large amount of this has been acquired through illegal means.

Allegations against Superintending Engineer Zarina Begum and her husband Mukbul Ahmed

BIWTA Superintendent Engineer Zarina Begum's husband is Mukbul Ahmed. The couple has acquired illegal assets through various irregularities and corruption.

Among them, Zarina Khanam and her husband Mukbul Ahmed have 3 kathas of land in Ashulia Model Town. The value of which is shown at 3 lakh 25 thousand taka. 41.25 ayudhaya land in Baunia Mouza, which is shown at 7 lakh 50 thousand and a 1200 square feet flat on Hazaribagh Maneswar Road is shown at 2 lakh 61 thousand.

In addition, the value of their total assets including gold ornaments, furniture, electronic goods is shown at 2 crore 82 lakh 18 thousand 899 taka. The income shown against this asset acquisition is 2 crore 90 lakh 65 thousand 436 taka. That is, the income from their acquired assets is 8 lakh 46 thousand 537 taka more. It is alleged that the actual value of the assets of Zarina Khanam and her husband is much higher than the value shown.

According to ACC sources, the ACC has started investigating all the BIWTA employees against whom the ACC has cases or complaints. They have embezzled hundreds of crores of taka during the tenure of the fallen government. Most of their wealth was made by their wives and anonymously. Although they were known as friends of the fallen government, many of them have now changed their faces and become BNP supporters.

According to sources, an additional chief engineer (former dredging branch) is trying to stay out of reach by spending huge sums of money to get positive news in the media to save himself from his misdeeds and corruption.

According to sources, the magic and charisma of the corrupt in the name of investigation and submission of accounts is endless. The investigation of most cases is progressing slowly to get the corrupt free from cases and allegations. The investigation officer of each case has been changed several times due to the power. The corrupt have taken the cooperation of the officers handling the cases to save themselves from the cases. Crores of taka have been exchanged in bribes to manage the ACC officials. That is why the cases and charge sheets are not progressing much. Only investigations are going on. Even though the case date is announced from time to time, the corrupt are still alive due to various delays in the hearing. However, the same amount of corruption and irregularities as in their past days have already come to light. Moreover, many of the officials who were deprived of promotion and were OSDs for 16 years during the Awami League government have been reinstated in their jobs. Reshuffles have already been made in various departments including dredging, engineering, ports.

However, allegations of recruitment and trade have been made against several officials, including a member. The syndicate has illegally embezzled crores of taka through irregularities in ghat leases, development activities and manpower recruitment, and rigging tenders for various projects. Moreover, despite political changes, many have changed their minds and remained in power. Several officials and employees have been in the same position and chair for ten to fifteen years.

According to sources, the interim government has failed to take action against corrupt officials of every division of BIWTA. Since skilled, honest and talented people are not getting proper evaluation, bribery and corruption of corrupt people have become a regular occurrence. Not only that, but the ACC is also conducting its investigation against corrupt people of BIWTA at a snail's pace, raising various questions in the public mind. On the other hand, due to tagging allegations, various project managers of BIWTA are spending their days in fear and panic. 10/12 projects are on the verge of closure.

There are allegations that Awami looters have conspired with the PDs of various projects and have stolen crores of taka. These accomplices are still active, causing disruptions in work. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Ministry of Shipping is asking BIWTA to finance the project with its own funds. The project directors said that the organization will face losses in this.