Corruption in LGED project in Barguna : Investigation reveals different picture
Waliullah Emran, Barguna
Tenders were invited from the Barguna office of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) for the construction of 14 roads under the "Important Rural Infrastructure Project of Barguna District" at a cost of about 85 crore taka. More than a hundred contracting organizations from different districts of the country including Barguna participated in this tender, which was invited through the Open Tendering Method (OTM) method. After the verification and selection, the work order was given to the lowest bidder following the Government Procurement Rules-2025 and the e-GP method.
LGED sources said that under this project for the fiscal year 2025-2026, initiatives have been taken to implement important road development works in various upazilas of Barguna. The tender submission and evaluation process was completed in the online-based e-GP system.
However, after the tender process was completed, Omar Abdullah Shaheen, a resident of Taltali, filed a written complaint with various departments, including the LGED Chief Engineer, alleging irregularities, corruption and nepotism regarding four tenders worth about Tk 27 crore in the Amtali and Taltali sections. He introduced himself as the former Assistant Private Secretary (APS) of the late BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and a former member of the Barguna district BNP.
The tenders for which complaints were raised were sent from the Barguna district office to the LGED's central procurement department for evaluation and awarding of work orders. After re-examination, the central office recommended awarding of work orders in favor of the concerned contracting company as no allegations of corruption or nepotism were found.
The written complaint states that in four works of the rural infrastructure development project in Amtoli and Taltoli upazilas, certain companies were awarded work through irregularities, nepotism and political influence. Allegations of violation of government procurement laws and regulations, illegal financial transactions, low-quality work and discrimination in the tender process were also raised.
Omar Abdullah Shaheen alleged that LGED Barguna Executive Engineer Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan, Senior Assistant Engineer Shyamal Kumar Gain and Assistant Engineer Rajib Shah had given work to their close relatives' companies. He alleged that the companies that got the work include MA Lutful Kabir Traders, MS Noor Construction, Lelin-Deep (Joint Venture) and Nishit Basu Traders, who have Awami League political connections and the engineers concerned also have personal connections.
However, the investigation revealed that the complainant Omar Abdullah Shaheen himself participated in the tender process. There were also allegations of lobbying at various stages to award work to "Shahris Engineering and Construction Limited" under his control. Several screenshots obtained by this reporter show that before the tender began, he had requested the executive engineer not to award work to anyone other than his nominated contracting company.
Sources said that his company's license and technical capabilities did not meet the required standards as per the e-GP system and government procurement policy. As a result, the company did not get the work order. Since then, he got angry and started filing complaints against the engineers concerned in various departments, according to several LGED officials.
When asked about this, Omar Abdullah Shaheen said, "For 17 years, our party leaders and activists have been victims of lawsuits and attacks. I have asked the executive engineer for the work to handle their cases and benefit them."
Md. Siraj, representative of the contracting company MA Lutful Kabir Traders, said, "We participated in the tender in accordance with the rules. We got the job because we were considered qualified in the technical and financial evaluation. There is no scope for any irregularities or influence here."
Al-Mamun Enterprises representative Md. Rajan, who participated in the same tender process, said, "We also participated in this tender. We did not get the job because we fell behind in the competition. Now it is ridiculous to question the tender process completed in e-GP. There is no room for irregularities here."
LGED officials say that the implementation of the work has not yet fully begun. As a result, the allegations of "substandard work" are not consistent with reality. At the same time, no documents of illegal financial transactions or violations of government procurement rules have been attached to the allegations.
After receiving the complaint, a committee was formed to investigate the matter. Additional Chief Engineer of LGED's Barisal division, Sheikh Moha. Nurul Islam, was given the responsibility of the investigation. Although the investigation did not find any evidence to support the complaint, the executive engineer of the Barguna office has been transferred based on the complaint, sources said.
LGED claims that the entire tender process was completed following the e-GP and Government Procurement Policy-2025. The truth of the allegations against the officials concerned has not yet been found.
Senior Assistant Engineer Shyamal Kumar Gain said, "The allegations made against us are baseless and motivated. The truth will come out after an investigation."
LGED Barguna Executive Engineer Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan said, the tender evaluation and work order were given following the government procurement rules and e-GP policies. An investigation is underway into the complaint. The investigation will reveal the real information.
Humayun Hasan Shaheen, member secretary of the Barguna district branch of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said that the party will not take responsibility if someone tries to achieve personal interests using the party's name. If a person complains against the administration after not getting work after participating in the tender process, that is his personal matter. Care must also be taken that development activities are not hindered through motivated complaints.
Belal Hossain, Chief Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department, said that an investigation has been ordered after receiving the complaint. Necessary action will be taken based on the investigation report. If no one is accused in the investigation, the concerned engineers will be retained in their posts.
