Ctg Port Authority Appointment: Five held for forging letters, seeking bribe

Police on Wednesday arrested five persons who defrauded people by providing fake job appointment letters of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA). 

Law enforcers arrested them from a residential hotel at port city's Agrabad area. The arrestees are gang leader Ratan, Rezaul, and three associates, said police.

During the arrest, police also found a youth, Sohel Mia (22) of Panchagarh's Sadar upazila, who was lured from the district after the syndicate offered him a job in exchange for Tk 5.5 lakh bribe.

With help from Chattogram District Administration Executive Magistrate (NDC) Sohel Rana, officers from Double Mooring Police Station conducted the drive.

Magistrate Rana told The Daily Star that promising a job, the gang demanded bribe from Sohel, who then paid them Tk 50,000 in advance.

Sohel travelled to Chattogram with the fraudsters few days ago, where they gave him an appointment letter with seal and signature of CPA Port Director (Administration) Md Mominur Rashid. They told Sohel to pay the remaining amount on Wednesday, he said, adding, "After receiving a call from Sohel's relative, I contacted the port director, and found that the document is fake."

"Later, I collected Sohel's phone number, determined his current location and informed police," the magistrate said.

Sub-inspector (SI) Arnab Barua of Double Mooring Police Station, who led the drive, said police raided the hotel, caught the fraudsters and rescued the victim away.

He said during primary interrogation, the arrestees said some CPA employees were involved with the gang.

Contacted, Director Mominur said they are aware about the matter. They will help with investigation and take departmental action if necessary, he added.

"The fake appointment letter was issued on June 24, with genuine-looking seal and signature. The gang also arranged a viva exam for Sohel to make it seem believable," the SI said.

"A case was lodged, and the arrestees will be quizzed in remand," he added.

Magistrate Rana said Sohel is now in custody, and authorities are arranging to send him back to his family.