Ministry Orders Probe into Two EED Engineers

The Ministry of Education has directed the Education Engineering Department (EED) to investigate allegations of corruption, irregularities and political affiliations involving two of its engineers. The department’s chief engineer has been asked to examine the claims, which include alleged irregularities in public construction contracts, bribery, promotions and attempts to influence transfers.

The two officials named in the allegations are Moniruzzaman Moni, a former assistant engineer at the Dhaka Metro office who is currently assigned to Brahmanbaria district, and Abu Sayeed Akand, an assistant engineer at the EED’s Dhaka district office.

The directive was issued in an office order signed on Wednesday, 28 October, by A. S. M. Shahriar Jahan, deputy secretary of the Development-3 branch of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education.

The order stated that allegations had been raised against Moniruzzaman Moni and Abu Sayeed Akand, an assistant engineer serving in an additional-charge capacity, including in reports published by various newspapers. The department was instructed to examine the allegations.

Allegations concerning Shimul Akand’s political connections

Abu Sayeed Akand, who is also known as Shimul Akand, is currently the general secretary of the Diploma Engineers Council.

He has been accused of being an active member of a network allegedly operating within the EED for an extended period. The report also alleges that, before 5 August, he identified himself as an official aligned with the Awami League. He was further alleged to have presented himself as close to former parliament speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Jatiya Party chairman G. M. Quader.

According to the report, he was transferred from the EED headquarters to Rangpur on 30 July following various allegations. However, he allegedly returned to Dhaka on 8 October, less than three months later, after lobbying for the transfer. He is currently serving as an assistant engineer at the EED’s Dhaka district office.

He has also faced allegations of involvement in irregularities and corruption in development works at educational institutions in different parts of Rangpur, where he previously served as a sub-assistant engineer.

The report alleges that he helped secure contracts for his brother’s construction firm, “Ma Construction.” It also alleges that he arranged advance payments before work was fully completed and received bribes in the process. These claims have not been established by a final investigation in the material provided.

Questions over promotion

Allegations have also been raised over Shimul Akand’s promotion. The report says that, towards the end of the interim government’s tenure, 24 sub-assistant engineers at the EED were promoted in a hurried process. Shimul Akand was listed 23rd.

According to the allegations, promotions were granted even though vacancies were not available, and the officials were subsequently assigned duties on an additional-charge basis. The material provided does not include the findings of an investigation or a final administrative ruling on these claims.

Bribery allegations against Moniruzzaman Moni

Moniruzzaman Moni, who served for an extended period as an assistant engineer at the EED’s Dhaka Metro office, has been accused of taking bribes from two contractors in connection with a tender for development work at Rahimullah Molla Madrasa in Badda, Dhaka.

According to the allegation, Moni received Tk 600,000 from one contractor, but awarded the work to another contractor who offered Tk 800,000.

On 13 August, Class One Traders, a contracting firm that allegedly paid a bribe but did not receive the contract, submitted a written complaint to the EED’s chief engineer. The report says the chief engineer ordered an investigation after receiving the complaint. It further alleges that the inquiry later stalled and that the contractor was pressured to withdraw its written complaint following an alleged settlement.

After the bribery allegations emerged, Moni was transferred from Dhaka to Brahmanbaria. The report describes the transfer as disciplinary in nature. It also alleges that he was reluctant to take up the new assignment and, after a nominal joining, continued efforts to return to Dhaka.

Alleged lobbying through official letters

Moni has allegedly obtained demi-official letters, commonly known as D.O. letters, from a state minister and a member of parliament in an effort to secure what the report describes as a “lucrative” position in Dhaka.

The report says the letters described Moni, a member of the Bangabandhu Engineers Council, as being aligned with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). It also claims that the wording of the two letters was identical. The matter has reportedly prompted discussion and criticism within the EED.

A. S. M. Shahriar Jahan, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Education, said: “Specific written allegations have been submitted against the two engineers. The Education Engineering Department has been instructed to investigate the allegations.”

The directive is expected to initiate a formal examination of the claims against the two officials. However, the material provided does not include the investigation’s findings, an independent verification of the allegations or responses from the officials concerned.

Editorial note: The claims concerning corruption, bribery, political affiliation, promotions and transfers are allegations, not established findings. They should not be treated as proven misconduct unless supported by independently verified evidence or the outcome of a formal investigation.

//DBTech/SIIIE/SMP/MIST//