Khulna:The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sanctioned the initiation of legal proceedings against eight individuals, including Kazi Md Sabirul Alam, the Chief Engineer (current charge) of the Khulna Development Authority (KDA). This action comes in response to alleged irregularities and corruption related to the Khulna Shipyard Road Widening and Development Project.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the approval for filing the case was confirmed by Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, Deputy Director of the Khulna ACC. The commission had earlier granted permission to proceed with the case on Monday.
Among the accused are Md Ataur Rahman, Chairman of Khan Limited and lead partner of the project; Sheikh Mahabub Rahman, Managing Director of Mahabub Brothers Limited and partner in the project; and several KDA officials, including former Supervising Engineer Shamim Zehad, Executive Engineer (Project) Md Arman Hossain, Executive Engineer (current charge) Muntasir Mamun, Assistant Engineer Basudeb Kumar Biswas, and Sub-Assistant Engineer Sharif Wahiduzzaman.
The ACC complaint alleges that Mahabub Brothers Limited was contracted to execute the project, but instead of adhering to the project plan, substantial government funds were misappropriated. These actions are reported to violate the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has expressed dissatisfaction regarding the project's 13-year delay at a recent Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting, instructing that disciplinary and punitive measures be taken against those involved. Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury stated that the case filing is imminent.