Chittagong Correspondent:
Police have arrested three people in connection with the embezzlement of a large quantity of plastic granules filled in a covered van in Chittagong. At that time, 260 bags of embezzled plastic granules and a covered van were recovered. The estimated value of the recovered goods is around Tk 22 lakh, according to the police.
The Public Relations Department of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) confirmed the matter on Saturday (May 16) afternoon.
According to the police, a covered van with Dhaka Metro-T-13-0802 number was hired to deliver 520 bags of plastic granules imported by Paragon Plastic Limited from a depot in Chittagong to a designated factory. The total value of the goods in the consignment was around Tk 42 lakh 64 thousand.
However, it was alleged that between 8 pm on May 4 and 2 pm on May 8, the covered van driver and his associates conspired with each other to embezzle the goods without delivering them to the designated destination. Later, a case was filed in the Patenga Police Station on May 9 in this incident.
Patenga Police Station immediately started the investigation. Under the supervision of Patenga Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mustafa Ahmed, several teams led by Investigation Officer SI Haresh Md. Kusum conducted raids in different areas of the country including Chittagong. SI Syed Fakrul Islam, SI Sajeeb Kumar Acharya and other police members participated in the raid.
At one stage of the investigation, Imam Ali alias Emon was arrested in a raid in Bandar Police Station area of Narayanganj on May 11 based on secret information. Later, on May 13, based on information provided by him, the police conducted a raid in Mirsarai area of Chittagong and arrested the driver of the covered van, Md. Rashed.
Later, based on information provided by Rashed and intelligence information, another raid was conducted in Tongi West area of Gazipur. Ashraf Ali Sikder was arrested there. Later, 260 bags of plastic grains and a used covered van that were embezzled from a godown in the Sudafah Purbapara Bhadam Road area of Tongi West Police Station were recovered from the location he indicated.
Police said that the operation to recover the remaining embezzled goods is ongoing. At the same time, efforts are being made to identify and arrest others involved in the incident. Legal action is underway against the three arrested.
The incident has created concern in the business community. Those concerned say that such organized embezzlement incidents will increase if security and surveillance in the transportation of goods are not strengthened.