The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Bangladesh Railway incurs a huge loss due to theft of diesel from the railway loco shade at Lalmonirhat by a syndicate of dishonest traders in active involvement allegedly of a section of corrupt officials there. A contingent of joint forces raided the shade and rounded up some of those involved recently.

Lalmonirhat railway station is the divisional headquarter of railway's west zone. Regularly, thirty-five trains move to 84 destinations under this division. There is a Loco Shade where engines of trains get necessary services. Taking advantage of this, a strong network of diesel fuel lifters and smugglers was formed alleged by the unscrupulous railway officials and local tout class people. The network has been running its illegal trades for 36 years.

This illegal trafficking of diesel has changed the lot of several people including railway officials. This network has allegedly been conducting their illegal trade in collaboration with the railway officials and staff. But no action has so far been taken against them.

Many people in Lalmonirhat town have become millionaires over night through this business. Several petty railway officials have built luxurious houses and opened shops in the town through their underhand deals with the above dishonest traders.

The honest employees protested against the illegal trade and lodged complaints to the higher authority of Bangladesh railway, but due to unknown reasons no actions were taken. However, these honest people were harassed for their protests.

A fourth class employee of the shade told the correspondent that the dishonest traders smuggle out diesel from the Shade at dead of night and sell those at four points of the town namely BDR road, BDR gate, Uttora Road and Puran Bazar in the town.

For this illegal trade the Lalmonirhat railway faces a loss of Tk 30 to 36 lakh per month, a source close to Lalmonirhat Railway Divisional Mechanical Engineer's (DME) office informed.

After a long period, the joint forces led by the army conducted a drive against the network on January 20 and rounded up 14 persons including ten railway officials. Joint forces have already dismantled the network of smugglers and, based on information given by those arrested, are searching for others involved. Suspected railway officials have already been suspended. Their termination from service hinges upon verdicts of the courts.

When contacted, Divisional Manager Kazi Rafiqul Alam denied the allegation that railway high officials get a share of the money. He told that his office did not receive any allegation like this. Lalmonirhat Divisional Railway Mechanical Engineer FM Mohiudding expressed similar opinion. However, he was silent regarding taking bribe from the smugglers.

The Lalmonirhat Divisional Railway Enginner AFM Masudur Rahaman told that the total affair of the loco shade is under DME. The Officer In-charge (OC) of Lalmonirhat Railway GRP police denied talking with this correspondent over the matter.

Most of the staff members of Lalmonirhat railway were happy to receive the news of raid by joint forces and arrest of some of the culprits.