Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, Cox's Bazar

Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Public Health Engineering Department Deputy Assistant Engineer Saiful Islam has been given a show cause notice (show cause) on the allegations of widespread irregularities and corruption. On the other hand

On October 1, on the instructions of Md Ali Azgar, Supervising Engineer of Directorate of Public Health and Engineering, a 2-member investigation committee was formed with Abul Manjur, Assistant Engineer of Cox's Bazar District Directorate of Public Health and Engineering as convener and a member of IWBM. Investigating Officer Abul Manjur is desperate to save the accused Saiful despite the instructions to submit the report in 4 working days.

Day after day, he is trying to take the investigation to different sectors by showing various excuses.

However, there are allegations of irregularities against this Abul Manjur. On the other hand, the complainants said that Abul Manzoor was suspicious of the investigation as Saiful's man. They said that Abul Manzoor will strategically exonerate the accused Saiful and is looking for that way. In this regard we seek the intervention of the Executive Engineer.

According to the investigation sources, Deputy Assistant Engineer Saiful Islam was directly and indirectly involved in the politics of Chhatra League. In 2023, Sheikh Hasina illegally joined Sadar Upazila Directorate of Public Health and Engineering in exchange of a large sum of money for the benefit of being a close companion of Tajul Islam, the former minister of the Ministry of Local Government during the Fascist regime.

Since joining, allegations of widespread irregularities and corruption in household toilets, rain water, community toilets, deep tubewells, cello tubewells, water treatment plants, pipe line projects have been made against him. When the reporter talked about the issue of work stoppage, he said to him in an aggressive language, who are you to challenge? And who am I to take the challenge? Not only that, since he joined Cox's Bazar, he has been colluding with contractors and making irregularities in various projects. The contractors manage him and collect 100% of the bill after completing 60-70% of the project without explaining 100% of the work.

There are widespread allegations against him of trading tenders in various projects. If he does not get a hefty commission, the work of various important establishments is stopped. After the issue of Shokaj's letter, Assistant Engineer Saiful started running around. A dozen victims have submitted written complaints against this Saiful to various departments.

But the accused Saiful is trying to continue the allegations made against him by his former officer Al Amin.

When the then deputy assistant Al Amin was contacted in this regard, he said, I have started the said works. But at the end of the work, the one who will take the work and explain the work, he will listen to see if the quality of the work is correct. There is no opportunity to put the responsibility on me.

When Saiful Islam of Sadar Upazila Public Health Sub-Assistant Engineer Directorate was contacted about the complaint, he avoided saying that the work was not in his tenure and asked to meet at the office.

In this regard, the Investigation Officer Assistant Engineer Abul Manjur said, two officials have been assigned the responsibility for the investigation. Another is the delay in submitting the investigation report due to problems with the IWBM representative. Verbally I extended the time.

Md Mostafizur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Cox's Bazar District Public Health and Engineering, said that they have received a written complaint against him, subject to investigation, action will be taken against Saiful Islam. The report has been directed to be submitted by next week. The investigation will be impartial and there is no room for bias.