DHAKA: Fortune favours Dhaka City Corporation drivers as they created classic stories of rising from rags to riches.   

Their bosses wouldn’t disagree that over half a hundred DCC drivers minted millions out of the spare fuel oils, some of whom now drive luxury cars of their own.

Believe it or not, these happy-go-lucky chauffeurs also bought houses, flats and residential plots in different areas of the capital and also run their businesses.

The oil pilferage cost the Corporation around Tk 60 lakh a month, said sources in the know.

According to official sources, there are some 400 drivers working for the DCC while around a hundred of them are cleaner-cum-driver. But they, too, are not lagging behind in making easy money. How? Fake vouchers are the talisman that shows one Aladdin’s treasure cave.

Besides, the senior drivers and leaders of drivers’ association reportedly draw Tk 1 to 1.5 lakh from the fuel bonanza, without having to do the job, while the cleaner-cum-drivers earn Tk 20,000 to Tk 30,000 a month from the same shady source. The transport department is also allegedly involved in the scam.  

The DCC has a fleet of 561 vehicles that include 403 trucks, 57 loaders, 24 pickups, 38 jeeps, 12 microbuses, two staff buses, four water-carrying containers, five ambulances, 217 motorbikes and a truck.

Of these, 62 vehicles were converted to CNG usage. The whole racket that is involved in the pilferage did not allow the authorities to covert the vehicles.

A DCC official told banglanews24.com.bd, “We are afraid of them to do anything.”

Source said the drivers, including senior driver and vice-president of DCC Drivers Association Humayun Kabir, general secretary Mayez Uddin Mayez and transport manager Millatul Islam, own houses, flats, residential plots and shops in different parts of the capital.

President of the organization Mohammad Akter Dewan was named by sources in the DCC as one of the fat cats. “He owns a flat in Dhanmondi and plot and house in Uttara. But he lives in Dhalpur staff quarters and sent his son to Australia for studies,” said one source.

Akter, however, denied possessing any flat. But, he admitted that his son was studying abroad. “I know nothing about the issue,” he said.

When contacted, Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka said that he knew nothing about the millionaires. “I cannot remember any allegation in this connection. If proved, we will take stern action against the culprits.”

Transport manager Khondaker Millatul Islam said, “We always take immediate action against such offences. Many drivers were suspended for such crime. Last week, we suspended one.

“But, we forgive them after the punishment. I do not understand how one can be millionaire through pilferage.”      

BDST: 1617 HRS, AUGUST 19, 2010.