Staff Correspondent

A secretly recorded video has surfaced showing a brazen financial transaction inside the office of Md. Hasan Shawkat, then Executive Engineer (now Superintending Engineer) of the Dhaka Metro Circle at the Education Engineering Department (EED).

In the video, shot in the executive engineer’s room at the EED’s Dhaka Metro office in Agargaon, Shawkat is seen seated in his chair surrounded by six to seven individuals. The group is seen pulling out bundles of Tk 1,000 and Tk 500 notes from large envelopes and placing them on the desk, with one person heard explicitly stating, "Leave Tk 5 lakh with the sir."

While the exact date of the recording remains unverified, reliable office sources confirmed the footage dates back to Shawkat’s roughly two-and-a-half-year tenure as Executive Engineer in Dhaka Metro, from September 2021 to March 2024, prior to his promotion to Superintending Engineer.

When questioned by reporters regarding the video, Hasan Shawkat admitted to its authenticity, claiming, "Two contractors were settling a matter between themselves in my room. The money belongs to those contractors. I have no connection to it."

The EED is tasked with physical infrastructure development, building construction, expansion, maintenance, repair, and furniture supply across educational institutions nationwide, alongside setting up multimedia classrooms, ICT labs, and internet connectivity.

Analysis of the footage reveals that seven individuals were present in the room alongside Shawkat. One person is heard discussing the expiry period of a performance guarantee (PG), saying, "When is the PG expiring... leave Tk 5 lakh with the sir for the PG's validity. Get the PG period sorted out... and collect it from the sir."

Investigations indicate that several individuals present in the video are officials and employees of a contracting firm, allegedly paying bribes to secure illicit advantages for construction projects.

During his stint as Dhaka Metro's executive engineer, Shawkat faces accusations of clearing bills for contractors without actual work being executed. Several projects granted advance and final payments reportedly remain incomplete or were only recently finished.

According to official documents, an advance final bill of Tk 19 lakh was disbursed for repairs at Anwara Begum Muslim Girls' School and College in Kotwali without any work being performed.

In a show-cause notice issued on August 24, 2025, by then Dhaka Metro Executive Engineer Md. Mostafizur Rahman following an on-site inspection, the institution's head confirmed that none of the scheduled work had been executed, despite signatures from the Kotwali police station assistant engineer, institution head, and contractor's representative.

Similar allegations point to advance and unverified bills disbursed under Shawkat's watch, including Tk 10 lakh for West Yusuf High School in Mohammadpur, Tk 3.5 lakh for Uttarkhan Secondary School, Tk 8 lakh for Mohammadpur Government High School, and Tk 10 lakh for Dasherkandi Darussunnah Alim Madrasa.

Asked about these allegations, Shawkat responded, "Knowingly, I never disbursed any advance bills. On the contrary, I issued letters to stop advance bill practices."

Current Dhaka Metro Executive Engineer Monজুরুল Alam Sharif stated, "I joined recently, so I am not aware of the matter."

Multiple EED officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that Shawkat engaged in widespread irregularities during his tenure, drawing warnings from various chief engineers. Despite multiple complaints, Shawkat was promoted to Superintending Engineer on November 10 last year and posted back to the Dhaka Metro office.

Reacting to the developments, EED Chief Engineer Md. Tareq Anwar Jahedi said, "The video has not yet come to my attention. If any such incident has occurred, appropriate action will definitely be taken in accordance with rules."