Although, the appointment of one of the corrupt officials was cancelled just five days after his reappointment from the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), another has been allegedly given shelter in the Sirajganj office despite being involved in widespread corruption and irregularities.
As a result, pent-up anger is prevailing among the concerned officials, employees and contractors. It is to be mentioned that, one of the Awami League's ghosts named Abdur Rashid Mia was reappointed as Chief Engineer at the LGED on March 24 through a notification based on a-one-year contract despite massive corruption allegations. Just after spread out his reappointment news, the government and concerned authorities faced huge criticism. At one stage, Rashid’s appointment was cancelled on March 29 through another notification by the higher authorities.
The government’s move has been praised by experts. But questions intensified about Rashid’s close aide Mashiul Alam, who is still working as an assistant engineer at the LGED's Sirajganj office despite allegations of massive corruption.
There are allegations that, Moshiul amassed crores of Taka through recruitment, commission and transfer trade, when he was one of the top middle men of the then Chief Engineer Abdur Rashid Mia and used to realize bribe and commission from people promising for jobs, promotions and other opportunities.
Abdur Rashid Mia, also man of Kazipur in Sirajganj was a leader of Bangabandhu Engineers’ Parishad during the Awami League regime. He established his surpremacy in the LGED during the Awami League government with the blessing of the then Awami League leader late Mohammad Nasim and his son Tanvir Shakil Joy.
Before getting post of Chief Engineer, several allegations of amassing crores of Taka through illegal means were under investigation of ACC. However, he got appointment as Chief Engineer (CE) with the intervention of an invisible force during the Dr Yunus led interim government and amassed thousands crores of Taka in the next six months with the help of Moshiul Alam and some other cohorts.
Rashid and Moshiul siphoned their illegal earned money to abroad, sources claimed.
LGED carried out more than 150 development projects across the country during the Rashid’s regime. Each project had opportunity to recruit manpower through outsourcing.
Alluring to provide jobs at different projects like climate project, TULO (Town and Union Land Office) and RUTDP, Moshiul had realized bribe from a good number of job seekers, insiders said.
Moshiul used to fix bribe rate for each post against the recruitments. Tk 5 lakh was fixed for the post of Assistant Engineer, Tk 3 lakh for Sub-Assistant Engineer, Tk 2 lakh for Work Assistant, Tk 3.4 lakh for Sociologist and Tk 2 lakh for other posts.
In this way, Mashiul embezzled crores of taka from several candidates during the Rashid’s tenure, sources said.
After the expiration of Rashid’s term, Moshiul hid in the Raiganj office in Sirajganj district to protect himself from the hands of deceived candidates.
After the incident, many deceived candidates started gathering in front of the LGED building almost every day. Many would even stand on the streets looking for Mashiul.
Shiuli Akhter, a B.Sc. graduate from Bogura, said, “Moshiul Alam took Tk 3 lakh from me on the pretext of giving me a job. My CV also has the ‘take action’ seal from the former chief engineer Rashid Mia. Now, Moshiul doesn’t pick up the phone.”
Shamsul Alam from Pabna said, “I sold two cows and gave Moshiul Tk 3.5 lakh for job. But I heard that Moshiul sir has left Dhaka and gone to Sirajganj.
It is also worth mentioning that, being a resident of Sirajganj, Moshiul Alam was promoted from Sub-Assistant Engineer to Assistant Engineer with the blessings of the then Chief Engineer Rashid Mia. He (Moshiul) has now worked as an Assistant Engineer in the Sirajganj office of LGED by putting dust in the eyes of those cheated candidates. Internal sources said that, being a resident of Sirajganj, he has re-established dominance in the current office by using his local influence.
Moshiul’s service record:
He first started his career through outsourcing and later entered the government cadre through irregularities.
At one point, when Rashid Mia, who was fired, became the chief engineer, he unwittingly became Rashid's personal assistant (PA) because he was from Sirajganj and was close to Rashid.
He was taken to Dhaka head office from Sirajganj under deputation by a special arrangement.
Attempts to contact Moshiul over cell phone for comment on this matter were unsuccessful.
