Staff Correspondent

A formal written complaint has been filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Kazi Saida Begum Nipa, Accounts Officer (Procurement) of the DFA-Stores & Procurement branch of Bangladesh Railway (East Zone).

The complaint, lodged by a group of aggrieved contractors, accuses her of running a bribery syndicate, embezzling public funds through fake billing, and acquiring vast assets under her own name and aliases.

According to the written complaint filed with the Director of the ACC Integrated District Office in Chattogram, Kazi Saida Begum Nipa regularly demands a two to three percent commission on all files before clearing contractor bills. Contractors who refuse to comply allegedly face severe harassment and administrative delays.

The complainants estimated that approximately BDT 150 crore in bills are disbursed through the procurement branch each fiscal year. Based on this volume, the official reportedly accumulates between BDT 4.5 crore and BDT 5 crore annually through illicit commissions. The complaint also highlights instances of direct embezzlement of government funds using forged bills.

Taking advantage of her prolonged tenure in the same wing, the official has allegedly amassed significant wealth, much of which is kept under the names of her husband and close relatives. The complaint lists several premium properties, including a multi-story building currently under construction on land valued at BDT 10 crore in Chattogram’s Halishahar registered under her husband's name. It also alleges ownership of land and residential properties in the city's A.K. Khan and City Gate areas, Mirsarai Upazila, and a luxury home in her birthplace in Barishal.

Furthermore, the petition claims that she regularly keeps large sums of money in multiple bank accounts registered under her relatives' names at various private banks. While she reportedly justifies her demands by claiming the commission money is shared with high-ranking railway officials, the petition alleges she keeps the lion's share for herself.

The contractors also accused her of paying regular monthly retainers to certain leaders of a self-proclaimed organization named the "Railway Journalists Association" to suppress media coverage of her activities. Describing the systemic harassment, the contractors urged the anti-graft watchdog to launch an immediate inquiry, verify the sources of her assets, and initiate legal proceedings.

Copies of the complaint have also been forwarded to the Chairman of the ACC, the Director General of Bangladesh Railway, the Additional Director General (Finance), the General Manager of Eastern Railway, and the Chief Controlled.

When contacted for comment, Kazi Saida Begum Nipa's mobile phone was found switched off.

Following the publication of an investigative report on June 14 detailing the allegations, the accused official issued a legal notice and protest letter through a lawyer—without obtaining any departmental clearance—claiming the report was false and had been published without her statement.

However, editorial records show that her statement was recorded during a prior in-person interview, and the audio recording is preserved. The legal notice itself self-contradictorily acknowledged that the official also possesses a copy of the same recording. Additionally, the reporting team holds recorded confessions from multiple victimized contractors detailing the commission payouts.

When asked about the developments, Md. Suboktagin, General Manager of Eastern Railway, stated, "I cannot confirm the specifics of the ACC complaint at this moment. Once we receive a copy of the complaint, we will forward it to the relevant department for necessary action. I am also unaware of any legal notices issued by the officer. We will look into the entire matter and take appropriate measures."