Staff Reporter:
The Narcotics Control Directorate (NCD) has sealed off two warehouses of the country’s lone government owned spinning liquor manufacturing company Carew & Company’s distillery department in connection with the vanishing of 13,000 liters of denatured spirit (DS spirit) used for wood varnishing.
A 3-member inquiry committee has also formed to investigate the matter.
The estimated value of the lost items is around Tk30 lakh.
On Thursday (27 June) afternoon, Chuadanga NCD Assistant Director Sharmin Akhter sealed the warehouses.
On Thursday night, she said that a 3-member committee has been formed headed by Deputy Director of Jashore NCD Aslam Hossain. The other members of the committee are Jhenaidah NCD Assistant Director Golak Majumder and Meherpur NCD Inspector Abul Hashem.
The 85-year-old Carew & Company produces about 9 types of alcohol and sells these at its sale centers across the country. The company made a profit of Tk152 crore last year.
Jahangir Hossain, the current in-charge of the bonded warehouse in the distillery department of the company told that the then in-charge Harun Rashid retired from the job last April. The company appointed him in charge of the warehouse. When he went to take charge, he found that 13 thousand liters of DS sustained shortage in the warehouse No. 3 and No. 7.
The officer expressed his inability to accept the responsibility and he informed the matter to company managing director in written.
Then the authority appointed another official Majedul Islam Tufan there. Jahangir was sent to Dinajpur warehouse.
Mohammad Yusuf Ali, general manager of Carew said that the company was investigating the matter on its own.
An official of Carew, on condition of anonymity, said that the incident was leaked to the Narcotics Directorate as the matter was almost covered up.
On Thursday (June 27) afternoon, Chuadanga Narcotics Control Department Assistant Director Sharmin Akhtar arrived in Carew and conducted a preliminary investigation and later sealed of two warehouses.
It has been alleged that an officer of the distillery department and a General Manager tried to cover up the matter. Allegation is also that complain was submitted to them. But they did not take any initiative.
Carew Distillery Division GM Rajibul Islam said, “He will not say anything as the investigation is going on in this regard.”
The company’s General Manager (Administration) Mohammad Yusuf Ali admitted that he was aware of the disappearance of the above products.
He said, “I will come to the office on Saturday and clarify the matter,”.
Carew’s Managing Director Mosharraf Hossain said, “He did not even know the details of the matter.” He was not told anything.
“Whenever I came to know the matter, I took initiative. Action will be taken after getting the investigation report,” he said.
