From transportation contractor to godfather of bitumen fraud.

He started working as a bitumen transport contractor under the supervision of Abdul Monayem of Brahmanbaria. He became a supplier (businessman) through acquaintance with various contractors during the supply. He does not have a bitumen plant or does not import; but he controls the low-quality bitumen market in the entire country. By controlling the black market of bitumen through fraud and forgery, he became the godfather of this sector.

On the other hand, the business roads were being damaged, the government’s revenue loss is increasing. Again, the government is being deprived due to the lack of trade license, VAT and tax license. The government’s subsidy money in the bitumen sector is going into the pockets of the syndicates. These allegations are against Mostafa Kamal, the owner of Rahman Corporation, and the syndicate formed around him.

There are allegations – 80-100 grade bitumen produced in the Eastern Refinery owned by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is being sold as 60-70 grade bitumen in its own drums. As part of the fraud, several times more bitumen than required was procured by forging the contractor’s pad and signature. Although there were multiple suppliers, Rahman Corporation mysteriously took out most of it. This fraud is happening because the government works implementing agencies are giving priority to bitumen produced at the Eastern Refinery.

Engineers of the Roads Department and the Local Government Department are in the dark about this. Because when the engineers see the Eastern Refinery seal, they do not question the quality or go for lab testing. The cunning Mustafa Kamal took advantage of that opportunity. Our investigation has revealed such sensational information. The investigation has said that Rahman Corporation is the main culprit in supplying low-quality bitumen to the roads through fraud.

Credit: Dainik Amader Shomoy