Md Russel.Mia,  Amtali (Barguna) 

Three engineers, including the executive engineer of the Barguna Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), have been accused of irregularities, corruption and abuse of power in the tender process of a rural infrastructure development project. The chief engineer has ordered an investigation into the matter in light of the allegations.

The complaint states that Executive Engineer Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan, Senior Assistant Engineer Shyamal Chandra Gain and Assistant Engineer Rajib Shah colluded to get the project work done in the names of Awami League related persons and their relatives.

On Monday (May 4), APS Omar Abdullah Shaheen of late BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain filed a written complaint at the head office of the Local Government Engineering Department. Following the complaint, Chief Engineer Belayet Hossain assigned the responsibility of investigating to Additional Chief Engineer of Barisal Division Sheikh Mohammad Nurul Islam.

According to the complaint, Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan has been involved in various irregularities since joining Barguna as an executive engineer on June 23, 2024. He has also been accused of embezzling crores of taka in collusion with contractors.

In addition, tenders worth around Tk 36 crore were invited in March under the Amtali-Taltali Upazila Rural Infrastructure Development Project. Although 77 contracting companies participated in it, only five companies were awarded work on April 20. There are allegations that these works have been distributed among certain companies under the guise of irregularities and immorality.

The companies that got the work include Barisal's MS Lutful Kabir Traders, SM Noor Construction, Lelin-Deep (Joint Venture), SM Lelin Traders and Nishit Basu Traders. According to the complaint, the owners of these companies are relatives or politically close people of the engineers concerned.

Locals have alleged that there have been widespread irregularities in the project work. In many cases, contractors have collected the entire bill despite doing substandard work. In some cases, there are even allegations of releasing money without completing even half of the work.

Engineer Abdul Mannan, a resident of Gulishakhali village, said that although 3 lakh taka was allocated for the renovation of a mosque, the contractor did only 1.5 lakh taka of work. Although the matter was reported, the authorities did not take any action.

Md. Rafiqul Islam, the imam of a mosque in Khuria's Kheaghat area, said, "The contractor did very poor quality work. Despite being informed about the matter, they were asked to accept it."

Meanwhile, Karaibaria Union Parishad member Md. Redwan Sardar alleged that the pitch had gone up soon after the new road was poured. The concerned authorities were aware of the matter but did not take any action.

Complainant Omar Abdullah Shaheen said that only five companies were given work in the Tk 36 crore project, depriving the rest of the eligible companies. An investigation will reveal the full picture of corruption.

However, Executive Engineer Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan denied these allegations. He said, there were no irregularities in the tender process. The allegations of giving work to relatives or political considerations are also not correct.

Investigation officer Sheikh Mohammad Nurul Islam declined to comment immediately on the matter, saying that details will be provided later.