'Attempted smuggling by powerful syndicate'

Names of the firms and the people involved were disclosed by the four arrested crew of the fertiliser-carrying vessels during interrogation while on remand, police said yesterday.

The syndicate members are from Barisal, Magura, Jhenidah, Jessore and Satkhira districts police said but declined to disclose the names for the sake of investigation.

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The remand of the four crew ended on Thursday. They are in custody now.

But police are yet to uncover details about allotment, withdrawal and destination of the Tk one crore fertiliser.

Some vested quarters are now trying for release of the arrested persons, police said.

Police seized three cargo launches -- MV Ropti , MV Imon and MV Rumi -- with 834 tons of Urea fertiliser and three Sampans (big boat) and arrested 16 crew on June 4 while fertilisers were being loaded to the Sampans from the vessels on the Kirtonkhola river.

Sub Inspector Mizanur Rahaman lodged a case with Barisal Kotwali police.

But later, MV Imon and MV Rumi fled away with a huge quantity of fertiliser allegedly due to police negligence.

Immediately after the haul, the Barisal Deputy Commissioner at a meeting with the District Seed and Fertiliser Monitoring Committee decided to sell the unclaimed fertilisers through auction. A court approved the auction on Monday last.

But following a petition filed on behalf of the arrested crew, the District Judge Court on Wednesday stayed the auction order till hearing on June 23.

Officials said only 17 tonnes of Urea were officially allotted to one dealer in Barisal district for the current season.

The big consignment was withdrawn with illegally and were being smuggled either to India or to Burma, they said.

Public Prosecutor Advocate Kamrul Ahssan Shahin yesterday said, as the court stayed the auction without hearing both parties, the government will appear before the court to pray for vacation of the stay order.

Advocate Abdul Majid Munshi who appeared for the arrested crew told this correspondent that they (crew) had valid documents regarding the fertilisers and that the seizure and arrest were illegal.