Some greedy and dishonest officials of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) have been allegedly engaged in different illegal works which not only demeaning the state owned organisation but also creating barriers in development work.
Sources said the CAAB officials have been engaged in different crimes such as corruption, gold smuggling, drug peddling and human trafficking, delaying development projects and others.
According to CAAB's departmental cases updated list for the month of December, such information came into light. The list also informed that, departmental cases against 26 CAAB officials are pending as they are allegedly involved in various types of crimes and corruption.
Some cases have been settled but many other cases still remained pending.
Out of these departmental cases, 10 cases have been registered for being involved in gold smuggling. There have been 10 departmental cases as well as criminal cases against them. Criminal cases are pending. Those, against whom departmental cases are pending, have been suspended.
However, CAAB said strict action is being taken against any of their officers or employees involved in such crimes. No one is being spared.
CAAB chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman told Bangladesh Post, “Our drive against corruption is continuing, as per the government's zero tolerance policy against corruption. We want to uproot this from our organisation. Already some officials have been suspended as their corruption is proven.”
“Several criminal cases are still pending. Based on the verdict of these criminal cases we will take action against those corrupted officials and employees soon,” he added.
Most of the ongoing departmental cases were filed for gold smuggling. Smuggled gold is often caught at three international airports in the country, including Shahjalal International Airport. But even then the smuggling is not being stopped.
People concerned said that the amount of smuggled gold seized at the airport is several times more than the amount smuggled. Many unscrupulous employees of various organisations working at the airport are involved in these heinous acts.
According to CAAB, departmental cases are pending against 10 employees for smuggling gold. They either smuggled gold when they were on duty, or helped smugglers.
Besides, another official has also forged the order of the High Court. Moreover, an employee has reduced the age by staying in the job for more than two years through fraudulence.
