Serious allegations of transfer-related bribery, financial irregularities, intimidation, harassment of officials and employees, and acquisition of assets beyond known sources of income have been raised in connection with the Chattogram Circle office of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) in Cumilla.
At the centre of the allegations are Firoz Alam Chowdhury, Superintending Engineer of the Chattogram Circle, Cumilla, and Md. Shahidul Islam, a stenographer at the same office.
According to written complaints and related documents, the complainants allege that the two individuals have, for a prolonged period, exercised influence over various administrative activities of the office, particularly transfers and employment-related matters. The complaints allege that a network for soliciting and receiving money in exchange for administrative favours had developed around them.
Copies of the complaints indicate that allegations were submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Local Government Division and the Chief Engineer of the DPHE. The complainants claim that despite submitting written complaints to several authorities, no effective action has so far been taken.
Allegations Against Stenographer Shahidul Islam
According to the complaints, Md. Shahidul Islam has been working as a stenographer at the Chattogram Circle, Cumilla office since 1989. The complainants estimate that he has remained at the same workplace for approximately 35 to 36 years and allege that this prolonged tenure enabled him to establish considerable influence within the office.
The complaints further allege that although Shahidul Islam holds the post of stenographer, he exercised influence over various officials and employees, including the chief assistant, and had an influential role in administrative activities conducted through the office of the Superintending Engineer.
The complainants allege that a network involving Superintending Engineer Firoz Alam Chowdhury and Stenographer Shahidul Islam developed around transfers and other administrative activities.
According to the allegations, money was sought in exchange for arranging transfers of employees working under the Chattogram Circle, covering areas from Chandpur to Teknaf in Cox's Bazar. The complainants claim that requests for transfers and alleged financial transactions took place regularly and that Shahidul Islam played a significant role in the process.
Alleged Collection of Money
The written complaints further allege that Shahidul Islam used the name of Superintending Engineer Firoz Alam Chowdhury while contacting employees under the jurisdiction of the circle. He allegedly asked them to bring money to the office or meet him in connection with transfer-related matters.
The complaints also allege that, in some cases, employees were instructed to send money to a bKash number allegedly used in the name of Shahidul Islam's daughter.
The complainants further allege that employees who did not comply with Shahidul Islam's instructions were threatened with punitive transfers from one district to another, suspension or other forms of harassment.
They also allege that complaints were sometimes prepared against employees using allegedly fabricated documents, followed by threats of disciplinary action or transfer and subsequent demands for money.
Alleged Bribery in Pension and GPF Matters
According to the complaints, employees under the Chattogram Circle were allegedly asked to pay between Tk 50,000 and Tk 60,000 for pension-related services, Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000 for final withdrawal of General Provident Fund (GPF) money, and Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 for approval of post-retirement leave (PRL).
The complaints further allege that employees holding different positions were asked to pay amounts ranging from Tk 60,000–70,000 to as much as Tk 100,000, depending on the circumstances.
The complainants claim that Shahidul Islam allegedly used the name and official position of Superintending Engineer Firoz Alam Chowdhury in connection with these alleged transactions and lobbying activities.
They have called for an investigation into phone records, bank and mobile financial service transactions, transfer-related documents and statements from officials and employees to establish whether the allegations have substance.
Allegations of Undisclosed Assets
The complaints submitted to the ACC also contain allegations that Shahidul Islam acquired assets beyond his known sources of income.
According to the complaints, he allegedly owns land and a two-storey house in the Sadar area of Barishal, his home district. The complaints also allege that a multi-storey building is under construction in the Kandirpar area of Cumilla city, reportedly planned as a seven-storey structure.
The complainants further allege that he owns a flat in Aftabnagar, Dhaka, and that he and his family members have various financial assets, including bank deposits, fixed deposits and savings certificates.
They have called for an investigation into the sources of funds used to acquire these assets and whether the assets are consistent with the lawful income of Shahidul Islam and his family members.
The complainants have also requested scrutiny of bank accounts, fixed deposits, savings certificates, land, houses, flats and other assets held in the names of Shahidul Islam and his family members.
Alleged Political Connections
The complaints further allege that Shahidul Islam used claims of being a close associate and relative of former LGRD Minister Tajul Islam and former Member of Parliament A.K.M. Bahauddin Bahar to exert influence.
The complaints also allege that the DPHE was effectively controlled through Shahidul Islam. These claims have not been independently verified.
Complaints Submitted to Authorities
Documents show that a written complaint bearing the signature of Md. Abdul Hannan, who identified himself as a resident of Noakhali Sadar and a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, was submitted separately to the Chief Engineer of DPHE and the ACC on November 17, 2024.
The complaint referred to Shahidul Islam's alleged service at the same office since 1989 and sought an investigation and departmental action over allegations of bribery, transfer-related financial dealings, harassment and acquisition of assets beyond known sources of income.
A further complaint, reportedly signed by an individual named Zia Uddin Md. Rubel, was submitted to the ACC and the Secretary of the Local Government Division on February 3, 2025, according to the documents.
In that complaint, the signatory identified himself as a permanent resident of Cumilla Sadar and alleged irregularities, corruption, bribery and transfer-related financial transactions against Shahidul Islam.
The complaint also alleged that officials and employees were subjected to pressure, that money was allegedly collected using the name of the Superintending Engineer, and that bribes were demanded in connection with pension and GPF-related services and other administrative matters.
Recent Transfer Orders
Several transfer orders issued in 2026 have also been found in connection with the office of the Superintending Engineer, DPHE, Chattogram Circle, Cumilla.
An office order dated August 15, 2026, shows that two Office Assistants-cum-Computer Typists working in Chakaria and Pekua upazilas were transferred to each other's workplaces.
Another order dated August 17, 2026, transferred three mechanics from Lakshmipur Sadar, Boalkhali and Karnaphuli to Raipur, Karnaphuli and Chatkhil, respectively.
On August 30, 2026, another office order transferred mechanic Md. Ahsanul Haque from Rangunia to Fatikchhari, while mechanics Doyal De and Papri Dash Gupta were transferred to Fatikchhari North.
A separate order issued on the same day transferred mechanic Juel Biswas from Fatikchhari to Raozan, Pankaj Kanti Nag from Raozan to Fatikchhari, and Nasir Uddin from Ukhia to Chakaria.
The existence of these transfer orders, however, does not by itself establish that the transfers were connected to any alleged financial transactions.
Call for an Independent Investigation
The complainants have called for an impartial investigation into the alleged roles of Superintending Engineer Firoz Alam Chowdhury and Stenographer Shahidul Islam.
They have particularly urged the authorities to examine Shahidul Islam's prolonged posting at the same workplace, his service records, appointment and posting history, approvals relating to his continued tenure at the office, transfer-related documents, complaints from officials and employees, alleged financial transactions and declarations of assets.
The complainants further allege that despite written complaints submitted to several authorities, Shahidul Islam remains posted at the Chattogram Circle, Cumilla office.
They also allege that allegations of transfer-related financial dealings and other irregularities surfaced during Firoz Alam Chowdhury's tenure as Superintending Engineer.
The complainants have therefore called for an independent investigation into the alleged roles of both individuals, their communications with each other and their respective involvement, if any, in administrative decision-making.
Attempts to Obtain Their Statements
Attempts were made to obtain comments from Superintending Engineer Firoz Alam Chowdhury and Stenographer Md. Shahidul Islam regarding the allegations.
Several calls were made to their mobile phones, but neither responded before this report was prepared.
The allegations remain allegations unless established through an appropriate investigation or other competent process. The concerned authorities may verify the complaints by examining official records, financial transactions, service documents, transfer orders and statements from the individuals concerned.