M.R. Amin, Chittagong

 

The main accused did not face the committee investigating allegations of irregularities in the controversial appointments of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA).

 

Despite the ongoing investigation into allegations of irregularities and corruption in the recruitment of employees by the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), the agency has not been able to provide satisfactory answers to the questions raised. In addition to failing to provide a clear explanation of the main points of the allegations before the investigation committee, former CDA chairman Engineer Nurul Karim and former secretary Rabindra Chakma, who are directly accused of the allegations, also did not appear before the committee.

 

 

In a special report, it is learned that the Ministry of Housing and Public Works has formed a committee to investigate allegations of various irregularities including cases filed in the High Court from the beginning of the recruitment process that started in 2025, the board meeting's decision not to interfere in the ongoing cases, the ministry's order to investigate and submit an investigation report within 7 working days after the written complaint of a labor leader, the ongoing recruitment process, the leaking of written exam question papers, and recruitment in exchange for bribes. Such a situation has arisen when the CDA building was visited for a hearing last Thursday (September 24). However, the complainants expressed doubts about the accurate report being given as some of the committee's activities seemed mysterious. Present at the time were the convener of the investigation committee and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Ms. Fouzia Khan, committee member Deputy Secretary Ms. Tasmin Farhana, and committee member Secretary and Senior Assistant Secretary Ms. Ambia Sultana. On behalf of the CDA, Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain, Secretary Noor A Jannat Rumi, Assistant Secretary Md. Alamgir Khan (accused in the chargesheet in the pending arms case).

 

 

When asked about this, Habibur Rahman, General Secretary of the Chittagong Development Authority Employees Union (Reg. No. Chatt-2495) and complainant, said that although there is a rule to write the date under the signature of the Chowk Secretary on the admit card, it was not written. Because the prevailing rule of sending the admit card by post 4 to 6 weeks ago has been broken, the admit card was also given the day before the exam. The date was not given so that no evidence of irregularities could be found. The convener of the investigation committee got into a debate on whether it is mandatory to put the date under the signature in this regard. When the investigation team asked the Chowk officials to show the list, claiming that it was illegal to appoint 9 people citing the waiting list without making a list, they said that it was canceled. However, the Chowk Assistant Secretary Alamgir Khan, Section Officer Mainuddin and Abdul Hannan could not show it and said that the waiting list had not been prepared. The gradation list for promotion was prepared on February 17, 2026, but before that, i.e. on February 8, it was approved and recommended in the board meeting and an office order was issued on February 15. Moreover, although the names and roll numbers of the candidates who passed the viva exam on January 9 were announced as 1:5 against each post in the recruitment exam, the same policy was not followed in the results of the exams on other dates including the subsequent January 17 exam. Moreover, according to which law and rule were 2 people called for the post of surveyor and 11 people for sanitation workers appointed for the oral exam? Why was Yasmin Akhter appointed as sanitation worker instead of rejecting the proxy applications of the candidates Md. Noman Ali and Mohammad Bipul and Katachhera? Why were appointment letters issued late to two assistant engineers? Why was the recruitment process continued despite a case pending in the High Court. Although an advertisement was given for the recruitment of 115 employees in 31 posts, appointment letters were issued to 92 people due to various irregularities and corruption, but 75 people are working. How was 73 lakh taka spent from the revenue account despite the fact that there was no budget allocation in the 25-26 fiscal year as per the law and rules to appoint 75 people as chairman, secretary and chowk officials?

 

The Chowk representative could not give any good answer on these issues. Despite repeated requests for documents and explanations, Chowk did not provide any explanation, and could not even provide the requested documents. As a result, he demanded that these appointments be canceled, claiming them to be unethical.

 

 

Another complainant and job seeker, Md. Shakhawat Hossain, said, "The irregularities in the recruitment are as clear as water. The CDA recently dismissed 8 building inspectors based on a board meeting decision due to lack of required educational qualifications. There is no way to deny this. I was deliberately failed. I applied to show my records but they did not show me my records for fear of being proven guilty. This is the record amount of money spent on this recruitment in the history of CDA."

 

 

I can say for sure that no action will be taken this time either. Because the investigation committee has become biased. They are speaking on behalf of the criminal to harass the complainants with irrelevant questions. However, we are optimistic, because we believe that the country's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not tolerate any irregularities. We hope that if this committee is biased, he will do something.

 

 

However, denying the allegations, Ms. Ambia Sultana, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Member Secretary of the Investigation Committee, said, "We did not speak on anyone's side. We tried to uncover the truth through logical arguments. We tried to understand whether there was any intention among the complainants."

 

There will be no negligence in the investigation, an accurate report will be given. When asked whether those against whom the allegations were made were present, he said, "They were not present but gave written statements and were informed that they will go to the ministry and appear."

 

It is mentioned  that on October 22, 2025, a notification was published in several local newspapers for the recruitment of 115 employees in 31 posts. In the context of the published manpower recruitment notification, news related to irregularities and corruption at various stages against the activities of the recruitment committee formed to complete the recruitment process by conducting a mass screening of the application forms of the recruitment candidates, conducting the recruitment test, practical test and oral test has been published in several national and local newspapers. In the context of another application by Habibur Rahman, an investigation committee was asked to submit a report to the ministry within 7 working days, but the then chairman did not do so and kept the lucrative recruitment process going and that report has not been submitted till date.

 

Earlier, the investigation committee was supposed to come to Chowk Bhaban on April 2 last year, but it was later canceled due to mysterious reasons. Later, he made another application to the Prime Minister's Office. In addition, Chowk Jatiyatabadi Karmachar Dal (Reg. No. 2949) filed a written application on October 23 to cancel the recruitment process.

 

On the agenda number 11 of the 465th board meeting of Chowk held on July 3, 2025, regarding the pending cases in the court, it was decided that there is no legal scope to take a decision on this issue until the case is settled in the court. It was decided that further action will be taken in the light of the court's verdict.