A human chain was held on Tuesday afternoon demanding the removal of Md. Shahidul Islam, Executive Engineer of the Barishal Education Engineering Department, and an investigation into various allegations brought against him.
The human chain was organized by local residents and people who claimed to have been affected by the alleged irregularities. Participants accused the executive engineer of bribery, corruption, irregularities, fraudulent bill withdrawals, tender-related misconduct, and harassment of contractors. They called for a prompt and impartial investigation into the allegations and demanded appropriate action if the allegations are found to be substantiated.
Speakers at the programme alleged that Md. Shahidul Islam had faced allegations of irregularities and corruption while serving in Patuakhali. They further claimed that allegations of irregularities and corruption have continued after he took charge as Executive Engineer of the Barishal Education Engineering Department.
The participants also alleged that although administrative and personnel changes took place in various government offices after August 5, 2024, Shahidul Islam has continued to serve in his position at the Barishal Education Engineering Department. They claimed that allegations of irregularities and corruption against him had previously been reported in the media, but no effective action had been taken.
Speakers at the human chain said the failure to properly investigate the allegations had created frustration and dissatisfaction among those concerned. They demanded the formation of an investigation committee to verify the allegations and urged the authorities to take action in accordance with the law if any wrongdoing is established.
Earlier, 24 contractors reportedly submitted a written complaint to the Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, alleging bribery, corruption, fraudulent bill withdrawals, tender-related irregularities and harassment by the executive engineer of the Barishal Education Engineering Department.
In their written complaint, the contractors alleged that if they failed to pay a certain percentage of commission allegedly demanded by the executive engineer, they faced difficulties in receiving payments even after completing their work. They further alleged that bills were delayed without valid reasons and that contractors were subjected to various forms of harassment.
The contractors also alleged that payment-related procedures were advanced by showing progress on paper despite a lack of visible progress at project sites. In addition, some contractors reportedly alleged that they were required to pay extra money to recover security deposits related to completed works.
The contractors further claimed that those who raised objections against the executive engineer faced the risk of having their bills withheld or encountering various complications at project sites. They alleged that such concerns had discouraged many contractors from making complaints publicly.
The participants at the human chain demanded an impartial investigation into all the allegations, verification of the relevant facts and documents, and appropriate administrative measures in accordance with the findings of the investigation. They also called for effective steps to ensure the proper use of public funds and transparency in the implementation of government projects.
The response of Executive Engineer Md. Shahidul Islam to the allegations was not immediately available. The allegations remain allegations unless established through an appropriate investigation or other competent process. Verification of relevant official records, project documents and financial transactions would be necessary to determine their factual basis.