Mongla, July 6 (V7N)- Allegations of various irregularities, corruption, and unauthorized promotions have been raised against Md. Abu Taher, a senior assistant in the property division of the Mongla Port Authority. The authorities have decided to form an investigative committee to look into these claims.
 
According to multiple complaints submitted to the Chairman of the Mongla Port Authority, Md. Abu Taher initially joined the port's security division. During his tenure in this division, he was found guilty of involvement in a theft of iron pipes and was subjected to departmental punishment on August 11, 2016. Subsequently, he concealed this information and, by managing senior officials, mysteriously secured a promotion from the security division to the junior outdoor position.
 
In 2022, leveraging his influence, Taher again managed certain CBA leaders and senior officials to get another promotion from the junior outdoor position to the senior assistant position in the property division.
 
Taher's promotions have raised numerous allegations and questions. According to government service regulations, an official or employee subjected to departmental punishment is ineligible for promotion for one year in the case of minor punishment and for two years in the case of major punishment. Taher's punishment period was from August 11, 2016, to August 10, 2019. Surprisingly, before completing this period, he was promoted from security guard to junior outdoor position on January 31, 2019, raising questions and suspicions.
 
Upon joining the property division as a senior assistant, Taher allegedly engaged in various irregularities, corruption, and arbitrariness, citing senior officials and CBA leaders. Allegations suggest that without official permission, he transferred port land to various individuals and regularly accepted hefty bribes for allowing illegal shops and residences.
 
Despite the removal of illegal structures along the railway line on the eastern side of the port building, Taher allegedly facilitated the reconstruction of these structures in exchange for large sums of money. He is also accused of illegally selling significant quantities of mangoes, jackfruits, and coconuts from the port's orchard opposite Saif Port.
 
Further accusations include profiting from the sale of large branches cut under the pretext of trimming small ones along the port's electrical line. He is also accused of extracting substantial amounts of sand from the port's seven dikes but depositing only a small portion of the proceeds into the authority's funds, profiting greatly from the sand trade.
 
Additionally, Taher allegedly collected unethical benefits from various individuals by promising land, buildings, and ponds in areas such as the port building surroundings, the forest office area, the power house area, and the picnic corner.
 
Despite numerous complaints submitted to senior port officials regarding Taher's irregularities, corruption, and arbitrariness, no action was taken for mysterious reasons, according to the complaints filed to the port chairman.
 
When contacted for his response to these allegations, Abu Taher stated that these are official matters and declined to comment.
 
Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Director (Administration) of Mongla Port Authority, acknowledged receiving various complaints against Md. Abu Taher and stated that an investigation committee has been formed. Appropriate action will be taken based on the committee's report.
 
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