Police have arrested two employees of Chattogram Port in connection with the disappearance of a container loaded with garment fabrics worth crores of taka from the port yard, triggering concern within the country’s premier seaport.
The two suspects were arrested from the port area of the city on Wednesday night by the Bondar Police Station.
The arrested are Mizanur Rahman, 35, from Ulubaria village in Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur, who works as a high-grade external assistant at Chittagong Port, and Abu Sufian, 40, from Senbag upazila of Noakhali, employed as a keep-down SC-188 staff member at the port.
According to police sources, a 40-foot container carrying garment fabrics imported from China went missing from the port’s JR Yard sometime between 4 August last year and 2 April this year. The missing container, numbered TCLU-8557304, reportedly contained fabrics worth several crores of taka.
The container was imported by Gazipur-based Moazuddin Textile Limited. After being unloaded from a vessel, it was stored at the port yard awaiting delivery.
Later, when C&F agent S Zaman & Brothers (Pvt) Limited went to take delivery of the container after completing customs formalities and paying duties, the container could not be located. A case was subsequently filed with the Port Police Station.
Officer-in-Charge of the Bondar Police Station, Mohammad Abdur Rahim, said investigators found evidence linking the two port employees to the disappearance of the container.
“They were arrested on Wednesday night. We are also investigating whether any other port officials or employees were involved in the incident,” the OC added.
