HC blasts govt officials involved in purchasing substandard fog lights for ferries

The High Court today criticised government officials, who were involved in purchasing substandard fog lights for the ferries plying Mawa and Paturia routes.

"They (officials) went to the US for importing high-power fog lights, and stayed in expensive hotel there at the cost of public money. But they bought substandard lights depriving the people of the country from service," the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman said.

"This is a serious corruption which cannot be tolerated. If corruption is committed in such a manner, how will the country develop? The corrupt officials should be sent to jail," the HC bench added.

The bench came up with the observation while hearing a petition filed by Captain (retd) Shawkat Sardar, former general manager (marine) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) seeking anticipatory bail in a case filed on charge of misappropriating Tk 6.65 crore while purchasing fog lights.

The HC summarily rejected the bail petition and ordered Shawkat Sardar to surrender to the senior metropolitan sessions judge's court in Dhaka in two weeks to face the trial of the case.

Earlier in the day, Shawkat appeared before the HC bench for anticipatory bail in the case.

The ACC filed the case with its integrated district office in Dhaka on January 5 against seven persons including Shawkat and Gyan Ranjan.       

Other five accused are: General Manager of BTWTC Md Nurul Huda; ex-deputy secretary to Shipping Ministry Pankaj Kumar Paul; engineer Rahmat Ullah, former general manager (mechanical) of Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC); engineer Nasir Uddin, manager (mechanical) of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC); and M/S Johnny Corporation owner Omar Ali.

According to the case statement, the accused helped each other in embezzling around Tk 6 crore by showing fake purchase documents to buy fog lights for the Mawa and Aricha ferry terminals between June 24, 2014 and April 28, 2018.