ACC investigates corruption allegations against BIWTA's additional director

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has started an investigation into alleged irregularities, corruption and illegal amassing of assets by AKM Arif Uddin alias Arif Hasnat, Additional Director of Ports and Transport Department of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority. 

The anti-graft watchdog has formed a-two member inquiry committee headed by Deputy Director (investigation and inquiry-2) of the ACC Md Hafizul Islam. Another member of the team is its Assistant Director Subhash Chandra Majumder. 

The information was disclosed in a letter of the ACC written to the Director (Administration) of the BIWTA. The ACC's letter, signed by ACC Deputy Director (investigation and inquiry-2) Md. Hafizul Islam, was issued on 3 September.

In the letter, the ACC asked for several details about the Narayanganj river port from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022 and Dhaka river port (Sadarghat) from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. 

These include accounting records of revenue collections, documentary records of earned revenue deposited (including deposit slips) in the government treasury and bank statements for the specified period.

Arif Uddin, currently posted at BIWTA's head office, was in charge of Dhaka and Narayanganj river ports at the time mentioned above.

ACC's letter has sought details of salary and allowances drawn by Arif Uddin  since joining BIWTA till June 30 this year and office orders related to the responsibilities assigned to him.

ACC has also sought all records related to applications and approvals for holding business or shares in the names of Arif Uddin and his wife, children and brothers.

The ACC's letter said that a letter was sent to the BIWTA on August 3 this year seeking above information for the sake of the ongoing investigation. But the BIWTA has not given it. For this reason, the inquiry activities are being hampered, it said.

According to the ACC, another letter was sent to the Director (Admin) BIWTA on September 3, seeking the same information and documents by 10 am on September  8.

However, it has been found that BIWTA has not sent any information to the ACC till writing this report.

When contacted BIWTA Director (Administration) Wakil Nawaz said his office (BIWTA head office) did not receive any letter from the ACC, which was sent on August 3 last month. However, he acknowledged that his office already received the second letter, which was sent on September 3.

When he was asked why they (BIWTA) failed to provide the information to the  ACC by September 8 this month, Wakil Newaz said he has been working on it and hopes to provide the ACC required information very soon. 

Contacted, Arif Uddin denied the allegations, saying a couple of years ago, the same type of allegations were  brought against him and finally nothing was found against him.

After several years, someone brought the allegation to the ACC again against me. The ACC has been investigating the matter now. After completion of the ACC's inquiry, the organisation will take steps as per its findings, said Arif, who has been also performing additional duty as Director (Land and Law) of the BIWTA.