Kalapara (Patuakhali) Correspondent

Members of an organized scrap metal thieves have become desperate in Kalapara, Patuakhali, due to the hot connection of BNP leaders and activists.

After selling steel, copper, iron, scrap used in various government and private mega projects including power plants in a free-style manner, LGED's iron bridge has now disappeared in the dark of night.

These stolen scrap metal goods are being sold in scrap shops. Which are being transported by trucks to big moneylenders in Barisal, Khulna, Jessore and Dhaka's Shyampur, Meghna Par, Kanchpur areas. However, although this is an eyewash, the power authority has filed a case in the name of BNP leaders and activists at Kalapara Police Station. But no one has taken legal action in the incident of the disappearance of LGED's iron bridge till date.

The LGED engineer said, that after the construction of the bridge, the concerned union council was informed that it is now their property. And the UP chairman said that he does not want to spoil the relationship over this.

Sources say that for the past one and a half decades, illegal scrap trade has been going on under the direct control of the political party. After the fall of the Awami League government, several leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliates have been involved in the scrap trade partnership. There are rumors that dishonest officials and employees of the power plant are also directly involved in the scrap trade. The scrap ring has been smuggling iron, tin, steel, copper, solar panels, power transmitters, batteries, tubewell handles, and tubewells. In this way, the ring is raking in crores of taka from illegal trade. The local top leaders of the political party and the administration are getting huge commissions.

The source also said that there are more than 150 shops selling small and large scrap goods in different parts of the upazila. There are hundreds of hawkers (hawkers) in the shops owned by scrap dealers like Kibria, Apu, Member, Zakir Musulli, Halim Gazi, Wasim, Jalal, Khalek. They go from house to house with new pots and pans and sell them, as well as buy old scrap goods. Old fans are sold for 300-500 taka per kg, copper for 500 to 600 taka, plastic for 20 to 21 taka, iron for 38 to 40 taka, paper for 10 to 15 taka. And the goods of mega projects including power plants are being bought and sold through political connections. After purchasing these stolen goods, they are taken to big moneylenders by truck.

Meanwhile, the 40-meter-long, 3-meter-wide Machuakhali Iron Bridge in Champapur Union of the upazila has been smuggled by organized theft gangs in the dark of night, filled with deadly Hamza. Residents of Machuakhali village saw 10-12 people cutting and loading an estimated 2,500 kg of iron angles, fish plates, scraps, screws and other iron goods from the bridge into the Hamza. On the other hand, at the Gilatola theft spot in Dhankhali Union, stolen goods are being smuggled day and night by cutting a tunnel in the boundary wall of the thermal power plant. All these stolen goods are taken from the Gilatola spot to the godowns of scrap dealers. Two tin houses are being built here and the stolen goods are being stored in the godowns.

In this regard, scrap dealer Apu said, I have brought a carload of scrap goods from Gilatola. 5 scrap shops have been opened in Londa and many scrap shops in Nomor Hat Bazar in Dhankhali and goods are being bought and sold in the open.

Another scrap dealer Kibria said, My home is Gopalganj. I don't do illegal business, I buy goods if there are documents, otherwise I don't buy them. Kibria further said, there is no profit in this business now. I have to do business with leaders. Members have left. I am also thinking of leaving.

A source from the local BNP who did not want to be named said, 'For the past 15 years, the local Awami League MPs have taken 5 percent of the profit from this business. At that time, their leaders and activists did not know about it because they had no chance. Now, the rumor has spread because several leaders and activists are gossiping about it. They claim that they are doing business legally by investing a large amount of money.'

Champapur UP Chairman Babul Master said, everyone knows who cut off the bridge materials and sold them. I do not want to ruin relations with anyone by taking legal action in this regard.

LGED Upazila Engineer Md. Sadiq said, 'The iron bridge was handed over to the Union Parishad long ago. It is now their responsibility to take legal action.

Kalapara Police Station OC Md. Jewel Islam said, 'Many goods have already been seized while smuggling stolen goods from Bhangari in trucks. Cases have been filed. Several people have also been arrested at different times. Cases have also been recorded in the case of theft of goods from the power plant. If specific information or complaints are received, further searches, recovery of stolen goods and arrest of those involved will be conducted.'

Kalapara UNO Md. Rabiul Islam said, 'After the LGED's iron bridge was stolen in the dark of night, LGED and the chairman of the concerned union have been instructed to take legal action.'