A truck loaded with about 10 tonnes of iron was seized from the nuclear power plant under construction at Rooppur in Ishwardi, Pabna without any documents.
Police have arrested five people on suspicion of smuggling the iron. They were detained by members in charge of security at the Rooppur project last Monday night.
The five arrested are: Kamrul Hasan Russell, Miraj Ali, Rubel Islam Rajan, Abul Kalam and Mazharul Islam Saddam. After interrogation, the police of Rooppur outpost handed over five persons to Ishwardi police station on Monday night.
Police said they were arrested on suspicion of smuggling iron ore.
Ishwardi police officer in charge (OC) Asaduzzaman confirmed seizing a truck with iron and detaining five people.
According to Rooppur police outpost, members of the security forces seized about 10 tonnes of iron, including a truck, as they were leaving the Rooppur nuclear power plant project at around 10pm on Monday. Members of the security forces want to see the documents to take the goods out to the truck driver. As the driver could not show any documents, the security personnel arrested the driver Abul Kalam Azad along with the truck.
When questioned later, he admitted that he was illegally taking iron out of the project. The security forces arrested four more people who were involved in the incident. The police interrogated the detainees and did not get any satisfactory answer and no legal documents to take out the iron.
Ishwardi police officer in charge (OC) Asaduzzaman said, "We have come to know that they were smuggling the iron ore out of Rooppur project by truck without any valid documents."
Nine and a half tons of goods include iron rods and some pipes were in that truck.”
The OC said Rooppur is a mega project in the country.
It has full-time army, BGB, police and Ansar members for its security. In this situation, the incident of illegal removal of iron from inside the project is surprising.
It is being investigated whether anyone else is involved in this.