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Matin denies port graft

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Former caretaker government adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin yesterday refused the allegations of irregularities in awarding container-handling job at Chittagong Port and raising retirement age of shipping pilots.
"Nothing was done at the port with bad intention," Matin told reporters after being quizzed by the Anti-Corruption Commission at the port boardroom.
A two-member team of ACC also interrogated incumbent Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority RU Ahmed. They brought Matin and RU Ahmed face to face to verify their statements, sources said.
"Allegations of irregularities can be raised because faults or irregularities may occur while doing a work. But the intention of doing that work is the main thing to be considered," Matin said.
"The tender was awarded to the lowest bidder according to the rules...Ishak Brothers got the contract as it offered a rate of Tk 340 for handling each container against the previous rate of Tk 1,200. The Wie JBailu Star
Chittagong Port will be able to save Tk 98.97 crore in the next three years because of the contract." he told reporters.
“The reforms done over the last two years were indispensable for the development of the port. You can now witness the outcome of those reforms.” he added.
The interrogation team r headtTd’by ACCT Deputy’ Director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah quizzed Matin from 9:50am to 11:20am and recorded his statement
Matin was given a 44-point questionnaire to fill in while CPA chief RU Ahmed was given 43 questions to answer in writing.
Ahmed claimed that he was not called for interrogation. "I went there on my own when I heard MA Matin arrived there to say hello' to him. I stayed there beside Matin for about 15 minutes and talked to him about relevant matters.' he said.
The ACC team also questioned 20 other people yesterday.
It began the interrogation Tuesday and questioned nine people on that day.
Interrogator Fanafillah said. "We are making headway in the investigation beyond our expectation. The accused and witnesses are giving statements while we are also collecting necessary documents."
At least 30 people are expected to be quizzed in connection with the allegations. The ACC team hopes to finish the interrogation today.
The ACC constituted the committee on September 17
following directives from the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry.
A parliamentary subcommittee asked the ministry to take necessary steps after it had detected anomalies in the tender process for awarding the container-handling contract to Ishak Brothers in increasing the retirement age
The persons the ACC team has so far questioned include Captain Zubayer Ahmed, Terminal Manager Mashiur Rahman Beg, Assistant Manager Golam Sarwar and Assistant Traffic Manager OmarFaruq.
Earlier, the team visited the Chittagong Container Terminal and verified relevant files and documents.
The team is supposed to submit the investigation report in 15 days. It can extend the investigation period for 15 days if necessary.