The Public Works Department (PWD) has suspended its Pabna office executive engineer (EE) over the pricing anomalies uncovered in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) housing project.
The PWD took this action against Md Masudul Alam, in-charge of the Green City Housing Project in Iswardi upazila of Pabna, on Tuesday (May 22).
“We also gave him a one-day deadline to hand over his responsibilities to our Pabna office,” said a PWD official, requesting anonymity.
He added that a 'stands release' order will be issued against him and that Masudul will be attached to the PWD headquarters in Dhaka.
A news report published late last week showed that a single pillow was bought for Tk5,957, and the cost to move that to the apartment was Tk760.
An electric stove reportedly cost Tk7,747 and the movers were paid Tk6,650 to move it upstairs from the bottom floor.
An electric kettle was bought at Tk5,313, and its moving cost was Tk2,945; and an electric iron bought at Tk4,154 was moved upstairs spending Tk2,945, according to the report.
The report and the pricing anomalies in purchasing household products quickly went viral on social media and drew widespread backlash from people, with many demanding inquiries and steps against the reported irregularities.
PWD Chief Engineer Md Shahadat Hossain on Monday (May 21) said he, too, was suspicious of the amounts of money shown spent to move household items.
“We are not sure that moving something can be this expensive,” he said.
On Sunday (May 20), the government formed two probe committees to investigate the allegations.
A writ was also lodged with the High Court the same day, seeking a judicial inquiry into the allegations.