Importer sued, cheating by Indian exporter alleged

Syedpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamsul Hoq filed the case with Syedpur thana against Hazi Mostaq Ahamed, owner of Sonia Enterprise, on Sunday at the directive Nilphamari Depurt Commissioner, official sources there said yesterday.

The case was filed after a five-member inquiry committee headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Nitai Pada Shaha submitted its inquiry report on Friday, three days ahead of schedule. The committee started functioning on September 15 and was supposed to submit its report in a week.

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The ADM told this correspondent that during test of random samples, 54 per cent of the consignment was found unfit for human consumption. The moisture content in the wheat was also much higher than normal.

He said the probe committee in its report also mention the name of Shoshi Enterprise, C&F agent at Darsana land customs, which handled the import.

The LC for the import was opened through Islami Bank, Syedpur.

When contacted, its Deputy Vice President Md Kawsar said that according to terms of the LC (letter of credit), the importer had copies of survey report, radiation certificate and fitness certificate of the wheat, provided by the exporter--LMJ International of Punjub, India. Any bulk quantity of food grains must be surveyed by any internationally reputed company before export, he said. These certificates were issued by authorities concerned in India.

The consignment was released by customs as the importer had all the certificates, he said.

He said the bank's client (Hazi Mostaq) had performed all formalities correctly and the exporting farm is responsible for this situation.

"The exporter cheated the importer", he added.

Asked whether the bank can stop payment to the exporter, the vice-president said, "We can not do so as per international banking law.

"We can stop payment if our government asks us to do" Hazi Mostaqe lodged a case on Monday against the exporter for "cheating" him.

On September 12, police seized the imported wheat while being unloaded. Police kept the wheat at the importer's godown at the BSCIC estate in Syedpur and sealed it.