Six Awami League MPs from Chittagong and at least three members of a parliamentary watchdog have engaged in a public dispute with former port city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, with both sides favouring separate firms trying to get the contract of container operator.
Six MPs – Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, Afsarul Amin, Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Mostafizur Rahman and Mahfuzur Rahman – attended yesterday’s meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on Shipping Ministry to allege that ex-mayor Mohiuddin had been extracting money from Everest Enterprise, who are vying to get the job of container operator at the Chittagong port.
Earlier, Shamsul Haque had also sent a letter to the standing committee alleging that in the guise of “protecting the port,” Mohiuddin had been waging a movement against the current container operator SaifPowerTech Limited only to make money from Everest Enterprise.
The lawmakers opposing Mohiuddin told the committee that the former mayor had made a deal to get the container-handling contract for Everest Enterprise by replacing SaifPowerTech Limited that operates at lower charges.
“Mohiuddin Chowdhury has been opposing SaifPowerTech Limited just to collect money from Everest Enterprise,” Fazle Karim Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting at the parliament building.
Shamsul Haque Chowdhury admitted that he sent such a letter to the standing committee and said SaifPowerTech Limited had been operating at Chittagong container terminal since 2007 charging Tk900 per container in port’s GCB area.
Now, the Everest Enterprise wanted the work of SaifPowerTech Limited, charging Tk445 for the same service.
“Awarding the Everest Enterprise, the contract will drain out additional Tk6 crore per year,” Shamsul said, claiming that the ex-mayor of Chittagong went for an underhand dealing with an LDP leader who owned the company.
At least three standing committee members – Abdul Hye, Anwarul Azim and Habibor Rahman – opposed Mohiuddin Chowdhury as they talked to media after the standing committee meeting.
“Their [six MPs’] allegations are right. So, we have decided that we will bring the matter to the notice of the prime minister. We will gladly accept decision of the prime minister,” Abdul Hye told the Dhaka Tribune.
The standing committee chairman Major Rafiqul Islam authorised Hye to talk to the press on behalf of the watchdog. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan did not attend the meeting.
During the recess of Magrib prayer, Major Rafiqul Islam met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inside the parliament chamber.
