A government official under probe for corruption has been appointed the new chief engineer for the Public Works Department.
Md Ashraful Alam who was serving as the additional chief engineer for the depatment’s Rangpur Zone got the new posting on Dec 31.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had found proof of Ashraful’s involvement in the irregularities in the Tk 1.33 billion National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital building construction and recommended measures against him.
The planning ministry’s Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) report also found proof of graft against him in the same project.
In August last year, the Anti Corruption Commission opened probe into the assets of Ashraful and his wife Sabina Alam and found proof of wealth acquired beyond known source of income.
On Thursday (Jan 9), ACC Director Kazi Shafiqul Alam wrote to both of them asking them to file a statement of their wealth within 21 working days.
Declining to comment on both the reports, Ashraful told Bangla Tribune, “ACC [Anti Corruption Commission sends a letter if anyone raises a complaint. Everything becomes clear after investigation.”
He claimed that he was honest and has “no relation to corruption.”
According to sources, Ashraful facilitated Messrs Shah Islam Construction, an agency owned by BNP minister Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad to land the contract for the construction of the 250-bed eye hospital.
In 2012, after the Awami League government came to power, the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division inspected the construction of the buildings for the project and found irregularities in the construction work.
Even though the report was filed and actions recommended, they were not followed through.
The ACC also found allegations of being connected with 15 contractors within controversial GK Shamim’s syndicate. He reportedly receives a 15 percent commission from each of the projects.
He has also been accused of appointing 300 employees in exchange of Tk 300,000 each during his term at the department’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Division-1 and carrying out irregularities in the construction of 560 mosques.
Ashraful Bangladesh Civil Service cadre of the 15th batch joined as an assistant engineer at the Public Housing Department in 1995.
He became a sub-divisional engineer in 1998 and executive engineer in 2007. He became an additional chief engineer in 2018.
He served in various capacities as the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Pubic Works Division-1, medical college division, Public Works Department’s Rangpur zone and PWD circles.