BCIC fails to find wrongdoing by cement factory: MD

FT ONLINE

 

Despite serious allegations of irregularities on the part of Chhatak Cement Factory Ltd managing director Md Akkash Ali, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) failed to find any substance in the charges.

Sources in the industry ministry say the investigators wanted to protect their colleague.

According the BCIC probe report, a copy of which is now with The Independent, there are seven severe allegations raised by the organisation, including that of production fraudulence in FY 2010–11; corruption in soil and stone feeding at the wash mill and crusher; misuse of government transport; misappropriation of thousands of taka in the name of house rent, gas and electricity bill payments; taking of bribes for giving jobs and plundering of money from the Tekerhat limestone mine.

However, the investigation report of the BCIC failed to find any evidence, though the probe committee expressed its apprehension over Akkash Ali. The investigation committee took close to two years to complete the report, which was submitted a month ago.

The report said there was sufficient ground for the allegations to be made, but there was no evidence to prove them.

The probe committee had recorded the depositions of 40 witnesses, including the officer-in-charge of the local police station, the then deputy commissioner of Sunamganj, local people’s representatives, businessmen and officials of the Chhatak Cement Factory Ltd. None of those who had testified said anything in Akkash Ali’s favour.

The BCIC closed Akkash Ali at the headquarters as director.

The probe report said the allegations levelled against Akkash Ali were neither true nor baseless.

Moreover, the probe committee declined to make any recommendation regarding the next course of action.

The parliamentary standing committee of industries, at its meeting in January 2013, had recommended to the ministry concerned that action should be taken after conducting an investigation.

Although most of the government’s organs, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), conducted investigations over the gross irregularities committed by Akkash Ali, the BCIC did not find any specific evidence against the allegation, giving Ali a reprieve, industry ministry officials said.

This correspondent tried to contact BCIC chairman Shah Aminul Haque over the mobile phone, but got no response from the other end.

Even tried to take comment from Akkahs Ali did not response this correspondent despite frequently tired to talk with him.