A 40-foot container packed with imported fabrics worth approximately Tk3 crore was illicitly removed from Chattogram Port using forged documents, a fake seal, and an unauthorized breach of the port’s digital database.
The incident has triggered a criminal investigation by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), leading to the arrest of two clearing and forwarding (C&F) firm employees implicated in handling the fraudulent paperwork.
The container (MRSU8692827), imported by Gold Star Garments Limited, arrived on the vessel MV MCC Danang and was discharged at the NCT-2 berth. According to police records, the consignment was smuggled out through Gate 1 on a trailer bearing registration number Chattogram-Dha-81-0003.
CPA Transport Inspector Saiful Islam lodged a formal complaint with Chattogram Bondar Police Station on 8 September, citing fraud and forgery.
Following the filing, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdur Rahim confirmed the arrest of Md Morshed Alam, 31, a Jetty Sarkar at C&F agent Paramount Trade International, and Md Saidur Rahman, 51. Three to four unidentified co-conspirators were also named. Both suspects were remanded to jail by a Chattogram court.
Forged delivery note and system breach
Investigators revealed that the signature of CPA Transport Inspector Md Eskander Farooq was forged on an “on-date, on-chassis” delivery form alongside a counterfeit official seal. The perpetrators subsequently accessed the port’s digital system using the employee credentials of Senior External Assistant Neyamul Haque Sarkar to falsify clearance records.
CCTV footage captured the two suspects presenting the forged clearance documents to gate officials.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspects claimed they acted with the assistance of Md Saiful Islam, a former employee of the C&F firm. The forged pass was submitted to duty security personnel at Gate 1 before the trailer exited the premises.
“The two suspects were identified from surveillance video handling the fake documentation and were handed over to the police,” stated complainant Saiful Islam.
C&F firm denies corporate involvement
Shihab Chowdhury Biplob, proprietor of Paramount Trade International, acknowledged that the arrested men were employed by his firm, but denied any institutional involvement in the crime.
“When questioned as to why they were in the container handling zone outside their assigned duties, they failed to offer a plausible explanation,” Biplob said. While supporting legal action against rogue staff, Biplob stressed that a breach of this scale required broader coordination: “Releasing a container is an extensive, multi-layered process. It is impossible for cargo to leave without a valid bill of entry, raising serious questions as to how this occurred without cooperation across multiple departments.”
Theft uncovered during legitimate clearance
The heist came to light on 30 August when the legitimate C&F agent, SRS Syndicate, attempted to claim the container after clearing customs duties via the ASYCUDA World system.
Upon arriving at the CCT yard, SRS Syndicate representatives discovered the container was missing.
Following an exhaustive search, SRS Syndicate proprietor Md Hafizur Rahman formally petitioned the CPA Chairman regarding the missing cargo.
CPA Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim confirmed that a high-level inquiry committee has been established to investigate the systemic failures.
