Staff Correspondent

Serious allegations of widespread corruption, recruitment trading, and transfer syndicates have surfaced against Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Director General Rezowanur Rahman.

According to officials and employees, the director general has allegedly amassed crores of Taka through transfer trading and recruitment corruption for the post of sub-assistant engineer using favored officers. Furthermore, DG Rezowanur Rahman faces accusations of filing false cases against BNP leaders regarding a fire incident at the department during the July 2024 uprising.

Reports indicate that during the July movement, enraged students and citizens set fire to the department after Chhatra League cadres were given shelter inside the building. Although the estimated damage from the fire was between BDT 4 to 5 crore, the director general allegedly submitted a false report to the ministry claiming damages worth BDT 500 crore, subsequently using the incident to file fabricated cases against BNP leaders and activists.

Investigations reveal that DG Rezowanur Rahman previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria from 2016 to 2018 during the fascist Awami League regime. Having served as a trusted official of the past government, he was appointed DDM Director General on June 20, 2024. Since taking office, he has reportedly been rehabilitating Awami cronies and corrupt figures, establishing a powerful syndicate with loyalist officials.

As an instance of this abuse of power, despite an order on February 5, 2025, transferring Upazila Project Implementation Officer Mohammad Shafiul Alam—known as a close associate of Awami League MPs and ministers—to Sylhet as the District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, the director general has illegally retained him within the DDM headquarters in Dhaka.

Additionally, allegations have been raised that during the interim period, the director general—under the leadership of then-secretary Mostafizur Rahman—collected over BDT 10 crore from engineers working in various projects under the department.

Despite facing such severe allegations, the official continues to hold his position comfortably, raising deep concerns among stakeholders. Officials and employees of the department stated that failing to bring the accused DDM authorities under the law would amount to a betrayal of the blood of the July martyrs.

When contacted for a response regarding these allegations, DG Rezowanur Rahman acknowledged the complaints but declined to comment on his tenure in important positions, including as Deputy Commissioner, during the past fascist regime.