Dinajpur: A case was filed against 19 officials of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL), including its erstwhile managing director Habib Uddin Ahmed, in connection with the ‘disappearance of coal’ from the mine yard.

Mohammad Anisur Rahman, manager (administration) of Barapukuria coal mine, filed the case with Parbatipur Model Police Station on Tuesday night, said Habibul Haq, officer-in-charge of the police station, reports the UNB.

Habib Uddin Ahmed, Managing Director, Abul Quasem Prothania, general manager, ATM Nuruzzaman Chowdhury and deputy general manager (store) Khaledul Islam, whoweresuspended earlier, were among the accused.

Earlier on July 23, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) formed a three-member probe committee to look into the ‘disappearance of coal’ from Barapukuria coal mine.

According to an ACC unofficial note, Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Habib Uddin Ahmed and others allegedly sold 1.16 lakh tonnes of coal and embezzled Tk 200 crore.

Officials said the shortage of coal came to their notice a few days back when a team from Power Development Board visited the coal mine and found that there was no adequate reserve of coal in the yard of the mine.

Petrobangla top officials identified inconsistency in the coal reserve at the coal mine yard.

As per the official investigation, the stock was found to have a shortage of 148,000 tonnes of coal and finally, Petrobangla has formed a three-member inquiry committee, headed by its director (mining) Quamruzzaman, to investigate the issue of the coal shortage and suspended a number of BCMCL officials.