Questions raise over reinstatement of sacked officer Arif

Rehennuma Tarannum:

The reinstatement of highly controversial official AKM Arif Uddin to the same position in the BIWTA’s Procurement and Conservation Department within a month of his dismissal has raised questions about the role and transparency of top officials of BIWTA and the concerned Ministry of Shipping.

This move has also pushed the BNP government into debates over its commitment and integrity.

Both the critics and experts believe that, providing such protection instead of punishment to the corrupt officials will encourage indiscipline, corruption and irregularities in all government sectors, leading to an increase in corruption rather than a decrease.

It is noteworthy that, AKM Arif Uddin, Director of Ports and Traffic (Transport) Department of BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority), was temporarily fired on June 23 last on charges of women’s scandal, corruption, professional misconduct and tarnishing image of the organization.

Suspension Notice

The action was taken after a video of AKM Arif Uddin and a woman engaging in anti-social activities went viral on social media.

On the same day of his dismissal, a three-member probe body was formed under the leadership of Md. Sajedur Rahman, member (joint secretary) of BIWTA’s Planning and Management Department, through a notification signed by Md. Kabir Hossain, Additional Director of BIWTA’s Administration and Human Resources Department.

Probe Body

Remaining two were Md Mizanur Rahman, Director of BIWTA’s Finance Division and Sultan Arefin, Director (Acting) of ICT Division.

The probe body submitted investigation report on July 7 mentioning that the video was truth and original.

Office Order

Based on the report, the authorities concerned lodged a departmental case against Arif on July 19 for his professional misconduct.

However on July 23, just after three days of filing the departmental case, Arif Uddin was reinstated at the same position of BIWTA’s Procurement and Conservation Department through another notification issued by the same officer-Md. Kabir Hossain, Additional Director of BIWTA’s Administration and Human Resources Department.

Reinstatement order

This time the reason behind his reinstatement was cited ‘interest of work’.

Not only that, terming the anti-social activities of Arif with a woman as an impact of ‘Devil’s breath’, Md. Mohidul Islam, Chairman of BIWTA issued an office order on July 23 and settled all the proceedings of the case saying that since the investigation found the authenticity of the video clip, Arif was reprimanded as a minor punishment and reinstated in his job.

After the incident, silent anger spread out among the honest and sincere officers and employees of the organization. Criticizing the reinstatement initiative, they demanded drastic action against Arif through a fair investigation over all corruption and anomaly allegations brought against him. Otherwise, such corruption and anomalies will be further encouraged due to impunity and lack of justice, they opined.

Mountain of allegations against Arif:

According to the allegations, Arif is accused of amassing crores of taka and illegal assets beyond his legal income. He has own business in Dubai, while his daughter Aishwarya carries beauty Parlor business there. His son, Saad Abdullah Afridi, has built a strong business network in London and America thanks to a student visa at the age of just 15. Arif and his wife own several houses and flats at Bashundhara, Elephant Road and Mohammadpur area.

Notable among these are a 4000 sq ft house in Block-C of Bashundhara, a flat at house no. 47 of the same block, a luxurious flat at house no. 41 of Block-B of Bashundhara and a large floor (third floor) in house no. 301 on Elephant Road. Besides, a residential building owned by his wife in Mohammadpur is currently under construction. This government official also owns more than 300 bighas of land in his home district Pabna.

It is alleged that, Arif has built this mountain of illegal assets with the blessings of former Shipping Minister Awami League leader Shahjahan Khan and Khalid Mahmood Chowdhury. In the name of BIWTA’s eviction drives, he had extorted huge amount of bribes from the owners of various establishments set up on BIWTA land, insiders alleged.

Mahfuz, owner of Alina Dockyard and Biplob, owner of Jotsna Dockyard have alleged that, Arif fraudulently evicted their businesses from the Narayanganj Port area in 2016, even after taking large sum of money from them. He also illegally gave Karnaphuli Shipbuilders access to BIWTA land in exchange for a large bribe.

Lucky Akhter Sathi, a woman complained that, Arif developed physical relationship with her promising to marry. He took her to different resorts several times and passed time as husband and wife. But, he did not marry her later.

Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB said, “Reinstatement of such alleged officer may encourage others to engage in corruption and irregularities. Such move also tarnishes image of the government. There were many capable officers in the organization for posting. They should be promoted without giving a corrupt officer a chance ‘for the sake of work’. Only further and fair investigation can reveal the reasons behind Arif reinstatement mysteries.”

Several attempts to contact BIWTA Director Arif Uddin and Chairman Md. Mohidul Islam through mobile phone were failed as they did not respond.