Corruption Allegations in Shipyard Road Project: ACC Approves Case Against Eight People Including KDA Chief Engineer
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved filing a case against eight people, including Khulna Development Authority (KDA) chief engineer (current charge) Kazi Md Sabirul Alam, over allegations of irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the Khulna Shipyard Road widening and development project.
Khulna ACC Deputy Director Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury confirmed the information on Friday (23 October). The commission had granted the approval the previous Monday. Although approval has been given, the case has not yet been filed; he said it will be filed soon.
The list of accused includes Md Ataur Rahman, chairman of Ataur Rahman Khan Limited and lead partner of the Khulna Shipyard Road widening and development project, and Sheikh Mahabub Rahman, managing director of contracting company Mahabub Brothers Limited and a partner in the project.
Among KDA officials, the others accused are former supervising engineer Shamim Jehad, executive engineer (project) Md Arman Hossain, executive engineer (current charge) Muntasir Mamun, assistant engineer Basudeb Kumar Biswas and sub-assistant engineer Sharif Wahiduzzaman.
According to the ACC's allegation, local contractor Mahabub Brothers Limited was given the work order to implement the Khulna Shipyard Road widening and development project. But the road was not built according to the project plan, and several crore taka of government money was embezzled.
Charges have been brought against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which is a punishable offence. In other words, the ACC is not stopping at questions over the quality and quantity of the work; the agency is moving towards a criminal case directly on allegations of embezzlement.
The project's long delays recently drew attention at the highest level. At a recent ECNEC meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed anger over the unprecedented 13-year delay in building the road. He also directed that departmental and punitive action be taken against the officials involved.
Following the prime minister's anger and directive, the investigation and legal process over the project appear to have gained momentum. Allegations of irregularities in a road project unfinished after 13 years point to the reasons behind the long suffering of people in the region.
Khulna ACC Deputy Director Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury said the commission has given permission to file the case, but the case has not yet been filed and will be filed soon. According to his statement, the administrative step of approval is complete, and the formal filing is now awaited.
Once the case is filed, attention will turn to how the investigation and trial process against the accused proceeds. At the same time, when the Shipyard Road project, pending for 13 years, will finally be completed remains a major question for the people of Khulna.
