Dhaka: Allegations of irregularities ranging from transfer manipulation and tender commissions to the use of forged academic certificates have reportedly created a system of influence within the Public Works Department (PWD), with Mohammad Khalequzzaman Chowdhury, the department’s controversial Chief Engineer, at the centre of the allegations.
Despite allegations involving the use of a fake PhD certificate, bypassing seniority rules to secure promotions, and involvement in approving the design of Green Cozy Cottage on Bailey Road—a building where 46 people were killed in a devastating fire in 2024—Khalequzzaman continues to hold the post of Chief Engineer.
He has also been accused of building a powerful syndicate soon after taking charge of the department and using it to influence transfers and postings of engineers.
Although the ministry introduced a lottery-based system for transfers to ensure transparency, allegations have emerged that the names of preferred candidates were allegedly placed in the lottery boxes in advance. There are also allegations of nepotism and financial transactions involving large sums of money in exchange for preferred postings, triggering resentment among engineers.
Alleged syndicate after August 5
Sources said Khalequzzaman assumed the routine duties of Chief Engineer on August 5, 2024, following the country’s political change, bypassing several senior engineers. He allegedly subsequently formed a syndicate involving people of his choice.
The syndicate has been accused of involvement in transfer and promotion-related dealings, collection and distribution of tender commissions, and raising funds allegedly in connection with securing projects from the Ministry of Health.
The alleged members of the syndicate include Superintending Engineer Sarwar Jahan of the Establishment Branch, recently transferred Superintending Engineer Badrul Alam Khan of Dhaka Circle-1, and Superintending Engineer Dr Abu Naser Chowdhury of Dhaka Circle-2.
According to sources, Sub-Divisional Engineers were supposed to be transferred before Executive Engineers, while the Chief Engineer has the authority to transfer officials up to the rank of Executive Engineer.
However, Khalequzzaman allegedly does not want to transfer Executive Engineers, which has reportedly caused resentment among Sub-Divisional Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Sub-Assistant Engineers.
There are also allegations that some engineers facing allegations of irregularities—including withdrawing excessive bills by showing multiple packages under a single project, making payments for work that was not completed, controversial incidents involving women, blackmail and creating disorder—have not faced disciplinary action despite evidence allegedly being available against them.
It has further been alleged that Khalequzzaman attempted to facilitate the reinstatement of officials who had been temporarily dismissed over such incidents.
Allegations of favouritism in transfer lottery
Engineers who claim to have been discriminated against in the transfer process allege that the names of preferred candidates and those who had lobbied for postings were included in the Dhaka lottery box before the lottery began.
They further allege that financial transactions were made to keep certain officials in their home districts in the same positions.
At least seven officials were allegedly excluded from the lottery altogether, including three civil engineers and four engineers from the Electrical/Mechanical division.
According to information provided by the complainants, several engineers were transferred from districts outside Dhaka to important positions in the capital, while others were transferred to distant districts despite having joined Dhaka only a few months earlier.
Among those allegedly benefiting from the process were Abu Taher Mohammad Khairul Bashar, who was transferred from Rangpur to the Dhaka Medical College sub-division; Golam Rabbi, transferred from Lalmonirhat to the Maintenance Sub-Division; and Saiful Islam, transferred from Narayanganj to the High Court Sub-Division.
A.S.M. Sakhawat Islam and Rezaul Karim Mithu were also reportedly posted back to Dhaka.
Sakhawat Islam had previously served at several PWD sub-divisions in Dhaka, including Rajarbagh PWD Sub-Division-1, PWD Railway Diversion Sub-Division and Sher-e-Bangla Sub-Division. He was subsequently posted to Mirpur Sub-Division, although his home district is Bogura.
Rezaul Karim Mithu, whose home district is Faridpur, has served at Motijheel PWD Sub-Division, Sher-e-Bangla Sub-Division-3 and Mohakhali Sub-Division before being posted to Dhaka Asset Sub-Division.
Sub-Divisional Engineer Joy Chowdhury was reportedly initially selected in the lottery for Chattogram Maintenance Sub-Division-1. However, his posting was allegedly changed on the grounds that Chattogram was his home district.
Meanwhile, despite Dhaka being their home district, Md Mehbubur Rahman and Mohammad Zahirul Islam were reportedly posted to Pilkhana PWD Sub-Division and Ramna PWD Sub-Division-3 respectively.
On the other hand, engineers Barkat Majumdar and Sheikh Mohammad Enamul Haque, whose home district is Dhaka, were transferred to Chuadanga and Chattogram respectively.
Mymensingh-based Sub-Divisional Engineer Anwar Hossain’s name reportedly appeared for both Faridpur and Narsingdi in the lottery before he was eventually posted to Faridpur.
Engineer Asaduzzaman Saad, who has reportedly never served outside Dhaka during his career, was posted from Tejgaon Sub-Division after serving at Uttara Sub-Division, Dhaka PWD Sub-Division-3 and Dhaka PWD Sub-Division-6 (High Court).
Md Mamunur Rashid, whose home district is Rangpur, had served for more than five years at Savar PWD Sub-Division. Although he was transferred to Chattogram, he was reportedly posted to Gazipur within a year and subsequently received another posting in a Dhaka sub-division.
In another allegation, the name of Netrokona-based engineer Ejaz Ahmed Khan was reportedly moved to the Dhaka lottery box before the lottery, although he was supposed to be included under the Mymensingh division. He was later posted from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Sub-Division-9 to Dhanmondi.
Several engineers recently submitted a memorandum to the relevant authorities, alleging irregularities and manipulation in the transfer process.
The engineers alleged that, under the rules, officials from Sub-Assistant Engineer to Sub-Divisional Engineer are to be posted through a lottery within their respective administrative divisions, excluding their home districts. Where one division has an excess number of officials, additional officials are supposed to be allocated to divisions with fewer personnel.
The rules also reportedly discourage postings from Dhaka to Dhaka.
However, the complainants alleged that selected engineers were deliberately placed in the Dhaka lottery box under the pretext of being “additional officials” and were subsequently posted to important workplaces in the capital.
One complainant alleged that substantial amounts of money were collected in exchange for preferred postings.
Alleged financial transactions over transfers
Sources claimed that financial transactions ranging from Tk 1 million to several crore taka were allegedly made to secure preferred postings for at least 65 engineers and officials of the PWD.
There are also allegations that politically influential officials, or officials perceived as having been aligned with the Awami League, were given opportunities to return to important positions through such transactions.
On March 3 this year, separate government orders directed the transfer of more than 50 Executive Engineers, Sub-Divisional Engineers and Sub-Assistant Engineers in a single day.
Questions were subsequently raised over the decision to carry out such a large-scale transfer exercise without allegedly informing the ministry beforehand.
There were also questions about whether the administrative necessity and procedural requirements for such a large-scale transfer had been properly followed.
Following the controversy, Housing and Public Works Minister reportedly summoned Khalequzzaman and sought an explanation.
As his explanation was reportedly deemed unsatisfactory, most of the mass transfer orders were cancelled through separate orders issued on March 5 and March 8.
Even after that, allegations of irregularities and financial transactions influencing transfer and posting decisions on a smaller scale continued to emerge.
A complaint has also reportedly been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Khalequzzaman over allegations of corruption, forgery, violation of seniority rules and acquisition of illegal assets at home and abroad.
Allegation of using a fake PhD certificate
Documents reportedly show that a departmental case was filed against Khalequzzaman over his alleged use of a fake PhD certificate to obtain higher-education leave while on deputation.
A departmental investigation reportedly found evidence of forgery and misconduct. Although he allegedly admitted to the offence, he received what critics described as a relatively minor punishment.
It has been alleged that the then Public Works Secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker reduced the punishment to withholding his annual salary increment for one year following a written recommendation from the late Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, a former presidium member of the Awami League whom Khalequzzaman reportedly referred to as his aunt.
Within three years of the disciplinary action, Khalequzzaman became a Superintending Engineer and, just five months later, was promoted to Additional Chief Engineer.
Thus, according to the allegations, he secured two promotions within a single year.
He later served as Additional Chief Engineer of the Gopalganj PWD Zone.
Following the political change of August 5, however, he allegedly changed his political stance and subsequently became close to Jamaat-linked circles.
With the backing of former Public Works Secretary Nazrul Islam, he reportedly secured the routine duties of Chief Engineer by bypassing five senior engineers.
Since taking charge, allegations of tender-related irregularities, transfer trading and other forms of misconduct have surfaced against him, while concerns have also been raised over alleged stagnation in the department’s activities.
Alleged manipulation of seniority and cases against rival engineers
Ministry documents reportedly show that Khalequzzaman placed his own name at the top of the shortlist for promotion, despite several senior engineers ranking ahead of him in the department’s official seniority list.