A number of allegations have recently surfaced surrounding an influential syndicate that has allegedly remained active for years within the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). At the centre of these allegations is former Supervising Engineer of BIWTA, Md. Sultan Ahmed Khan. It has been claimed that he has been named as an accused in a murder case filed with Vatara Police Station in connection with the anti-discrimination student-public movement in the capital. However, he has not yet been arrested, raising questions and discussions among concerned circles.
According to allegations, a fund of around Tk 500 million has been arranged to avoid legal complications in the murder case and to influence relevant authorities. It has also been alleged that he has attempted to gain sympathy at various levels by portraying himself as an honest, efficient, and BNP-friendly government official. However, no official statement from him regarding these allegations has been received.
Several BIWTA-related sources claim that over the past 15 years, Sultan Ahmed Khan allegedly established significant influence within the organisation by introducing himself as a relative of former Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif. The allegations suggest that he had strong influence over important administrative and financial decisions, including transfers, recruitment, tenders, and dredging projects. Some officials have claimed that many major decisions could not be implemented without his approval.
There are also allegations that labour leader Sanjib Kumar Das, who was reportedly close to Sultan Ahmed Khan, was used to spread negative campaigns in different media outlets against honest and competent officials. Several officials claimed that such activities left many employees professionally and administratively marginalised for a long period.
On October 2 last year, Md. Sultan Ahmed Khan was removed from BIWTA and transferred to the Ministry of Shipping on deputation. However, according to some officials, his influence has not completely ended despite his departure from the organisation. Allegations have emerged that his supporters are still attempting to create instability and influence administrative activities within the authority.
Recently, allegations were also made against his associates in connection with an attack on BIWTA Labour Party President Mazharul Islam. A case was reportedly filed at Motijheel Police Station regarding the incident. However, the investigation is still ongoing, and no final statement has been issued by law enforcement authorities.
Meanwhile, allegations of irregularities and corruption have also been raised against Sultan Ahmed Khan regarding his tenure as project director of dredging projects in the Pabna and Kushtia regions, involving projects worth approximately Tk 120 billion. The allegations claim that large amounts of money were misappropriated through the sale of excavated riverbed materials and that revenue generated from the projects was not deposited into the government treasury. These allegations are currently under investigation.
Further allegations have been made that although he was a diploma engineer, he allegedly used false educational certificates to secure promotions and eventually reached the position of Supervising Engineer. Questions have also been raised regarding irregularities and political influence in his government recruitment process in 1996. However, no official investigation report has yet been published regarding these claims.
Several BIWTA officials have alleged that Sultan Ahmed Khan maintained his influence in the organisation for a long period due to support from political circles close to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It has been claimed that he allegedly intimidated colleagues at various times by referring to his political connections. However, such claims could not be independently verified.
He has also faced allegations of collecting money from more than a hundred people in Pabna district with promises of government jobs. Claims have further been made that he accumulated significant wealth through transfer and recruitment-related activities. According to various sources, he currently resides in a luxury apartment in Uttara, Dhaka. However, no court verdict or final investigation report has so far confirmed these allegations.
BIWTA Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa said that the allegations raised against Md. Sultan Ahmed Khan would be investigated seriously and that necessary administrative and legal action would be taken if the allegations were proven.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka divisional investigation team of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also reportedly examining allegations of corruption and irregularities against him. Sources concerned said that legal action would be taken after completion of the investigation.
Several BIWTA officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that anonymous complaints were still being submitted to various departments in an attempt to harass honest officials. They said such activities were creating social, personal, and professional difficulties for many employees and negatively affecting the workplace environment.
Meanwhile, concerned quarters have alleged that an interest group is active in an attempt to obstruct the interim government's reform initiatives in the maritime sector. They claim that efforts are being made to hinder government programmes related to maintaining navigability of waterways, increasing revenue, and preventing corruption.
Experts in the maritime sector believe that removing long-standing political influence, tender syndicates, and corrupt practices from BIWTA requires impartial and transparent investigations followed by effective action against those found responsible. They also emphasised that administrative reforms, stronger accountability mechanisms, and enhanced anti-corruption measures could bring meaningful improvements to the country's inland water transport system.
However, the final truth regarding all allegations will be determined through investigations by the relevant authorities and decisions by the courts.