Shipping ministry suspends 'corrupt' chief engineer

The shipping ministry has suspended Chief Engineer and Surveyor of Department of Shipping AKM Fakhrul Islam, who was earlier caught red-handed taking bribe.

Ministry's Public Relations Officer Jahangir Alam Khan said it issued the suspension order on Tuesday afternoon.

Fakhrul was suspended as the Anti-Corruption Commission arrested him, Jahangir said, quoting the order.

He was arrested at his office of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in Motijheel on July 18.

One ANM Badrul Alam of Bengal Marine and Engineering Services applied for design approval of 22 ships on different dates from 2012 to 2017.

According to the corresponding ordinance, an approval should be given within 45 days with modification, if necessary.

“But Fakhrul demanded Tk 5 lakh-Tk 16 lakh for each ship, depending on their size. Without bribe, he will not approve any design,” reads an ACC press release.

On April 13, 2016, Badrul submitted a design for approval, but Fakhrul demanded Tk 5 lakh for it. Badrul agreed to pay.

But he informed the ACC of the matter.

Later, an ACC team arrested Fakhrul at his office and handed him over to Motijheel police.

A case was filed against him, said Golam Rabbani, officer-in-charge of the police station.