Around 5.5 lakh tonnes of coal has been stolen from Barapukuria Coal Mine, according to an investigation report of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
The report was disclosed at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital on Tuesday. The Power and Energy Complaints Investigation and Research Commission of CAB arranged the press conference.
The committee said at the press conference, a case was filed due to the theft of 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of coal from the mine. But the Energy Division is planning to peg the stolen coal as ‘system loss’ to relieve the persons accused in the case. In this situation, the investigation report was published.
‘Up to July, 19, 2018, Bangladesh Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL) paid a bill for 101.66 lakh tonnes of coal to China Consortium considering 5.1 percent as moisture. But in reality, there was an average moisture of 10.5 percent in the coal. It means the coal amount was higher than 101.66 lakh tonnes. However there was no record about the coal amount there,’ CAB claimed.
According to CAB’s investigation commission, actually there was 107.31 lakh tonnes of coal with a consideration of 10.5 percent moisture. BCMCL used and sold 100.22 lakh metric tonnes of coal. According to this, BCMCL showed a deficit of 1.44 lakh metric tonnes of coal. But according to the commission’s calculation, the coal deficit was 7.09 lakh tonnes. If considered at 1.5 percent system loss (Proposed by Petrobangla), the actual coal deficit was 5.48 lakh tonnes, which was stolen by BCMCL, Petrobangla and Energy division employees and officials.
Syed Abul Maqsood, head of the Investigation Committee, said, "The incident that happened in Barapukuria, is not only corruption, it is a big theft. The task that should have been done by the Energy Division, which was done by citizens. Now, the government should not exempt these miscreants.
He said, those who steal national wealth, and those who do not judge it, are equally culpable of the crime.
CAB energy advisor Prof Dr Shamsul Alam, who is also a member of the investigation committee, said the stealing of coal is not new. Earlier an incident of 300 tonnes of coal theft was concealed. Similarly, it is trying to hush up the case now.
Shamsul Alam further said, not only the officials and employees there, the board of directors, Petrobangla and Energy Division have also failed.
According to the ACC allegations, the BCMCL has charged 23 people, including seven Managing Directors. The CAB’s commission believes that Petrobangla and Energy Division officials should also be charged with them. They cannot avoid their responsibility.
‘According to Petrobangla’s proposal, coal supply system loss is 1.5 percent. If we consider it, the coal embezzlement stands at 5.48 lakh metric tonnes,’ said Badrul Imam, energy specialist and member of the investigation committee.
Among others, Prof M M Akash, Architect Mobashser Hossain and Prof Sushanto Kumar Das also spoke at the press conference.
