Allegations have surfaced that three influential figures within the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) turned the organisation into a hub of corruption and irregularities prior to the appointment of the current Chief Engineer (routine charge), Md. Anwar Hossain.
The trio — former Chief Engineer Abdur Rashid Mia, his close associate and then Sub-Assistant Engineer Moshiul Alam, and self-styled media consultant Abu Fattah — reportedly built a powerful network of influence within LGED under the patronage of the recently ousted Awami League government.
According to internal sources, the three men amassed hundreds of crores of taka through bribery, recruitment fraud, and transfer manipulation. Moshiul and Fattah allegedly acted as intermediaries, collecting bribes on behalf of Rashid Mia in exchange for job placements and promotions.
Rashid Mia, a native of Kazipur in Sirajganj, was an active member of Bangabandhu Engineers’ Parishad during the Awami League regime and enjoyed strong political backing from the late Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and his son Tanvir Shakil Joy.
Despite several complaints lodged with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding his alleged illegal wealth — reportedly exceeding Tk 300 crore — Rashid Mia was appointed Chief Engineer with the alleged support of “invisible” political influence. During his six-month tenure, he and his associates reportedly accumulated further illicit wealth, some of which was allegedly siphoned abroad, including to Singapore and Malaysia.
After the ministry declined to extend his tenure and discharged him from service, Rashid has reportedly been lobbying for reinstatement by offering Tk 100 crore to influential quarters. Insiders claim a financial agreement has already been signed at a Gulshan office between Rashid’s representative and an investor.
If unsuccessful, Rashid is believed to be preparing to leave the country to evade legal consequences, as his ACC investigation remains active.
Evidence of Fraud and Asset Accumulation
An ACC preliminary inquiry found that 12 contracting firms linked to Rashid’s wife Fatima Zakiyah, and other relatives received government projects worth around Tk 1,200 crore in FY 2021–22 alone — significantly more than other competing contractors.
Rashid’s trusted associate, contractor Jahidul Islam Tutul of Sirajganj, allegedly handled project dealings on behalf of the family.
A secret ACC report identified multiple assets under Rashid’s name, including eight flats and three plots in Gulshan, Banani, and Bashundhara, as well as multi-storey buildings in Rajshahi, extensive land in Sirajganj and Bogura, and undisclosed overseas holdings.
Impact on LGED Projects
LGED, one of Bangladesh’s largest development agencies, implements projects worth Tk 35,000–40,000 crore annually. Corruption under the Rashid-led syndicate reportedly compromised project quality — with 14 out of 57 road projects completed in FY 2022–23 suffering major structural damage within six months of completion.
During this period, the department also recruited over 1,000 employees through outsourcing, a process allegedly riddled with bribery and manipulation.
Recruitment Scandal
According to sources, the Moshiul–Fattah clique fixed bribe rates for various positions —
- Tk 5 lakh for Assistant Engineer
- Tk 3 lakh for Deputy Assistant Engineer
- Tk 2 lakh for Work Assistant
- Tk 3.4 lakh for Sociologist
- Tk 2 lakh for other posts
The syndicate is accused of embezzling crores of taka from at least 250 job seekers in recent months.
Following the end of Rashid’s tenure, Moshiul reportedly returned to Sirajganj, while Fattah fled abroad under the pretext of performing Umrah. Deceived candidates now crowd the LGED headquarters, seeking refunds or redress.
Profiles of the Accused
Moshiul Alam, a Sirajganj resident, rose from outsourcing staff member to a government cadre through alleged irregularities. He served as Rashid’s personal assistant and was recently promoted to Upazila Assistant Engineer in Raiganj.
Abu Fattah, from Ullapara in Sirajganj, entered LGED in 2010 as a so-called media consultant, though the department had no such regular post. He reportedly exploited project-based media positions to collect bribes, earning crores through recruitment and transfer deals.
During the tenure of former Chief Engineer Wahidur Rahman, Fattah allegedly collected Tk 300 crore in bribes from over 3,000 employees by promising permanent employment.
Fattah reportedly used his illicit gains to purchase land and construct multi-storey houses in Ullapara, while continuing to manipulate LGED postings during Rashid’s term with the help of Assistant Chief Engineer Mahbub Morshed Shaheen.
Repeated attempts to contact Rashid Mia, Moshiul Alam, and Abu Fattah for comment were unsuccessful. None responded to calls or messages.
Victims have urged the ACC to reopen investigations and take exemplary legal action to prevent the trio’s return to power within LGED.
Selim Reza, Sirajganj
