Massive allegations of tender manipulation, favoring a select contractor syndicate, disbursing funds without verifying physical work, and accumulating massive illegal wealth through abuse of power have surfaced against Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Superintending Engineer of Chattogram Public Works Department’s (PWD) Division-1.
 
Aggrieved contractors and complainants have demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations, verification of his bank accounts and financial transactions, and an immediate travel ban to prevent him from leaving the country.
 
At the center of the allegations is an influential contractor syndicate active in various construction and renovation projects under Chattogram PWD Division-1. The syndicate allegedly compromised the competitive bidding process to award contracts exclusively to preferred firms, ensuring final payments were processed without inspecting actual work progress or quality.
 
Complainants raised serious doubts over the transparency of the tender evaluation process. Allegations suggest that project conditions, technical evaluations, financial proposals, and committee recommendations were systematically manipulated to bypass eligible bidders. In several instances, work orders were allegedly awarded to higher bidders over lower, qualified proposals, causing substantial losses to the public exchequer and damaging the integrity of public procurement.
 
A prominent instance of the alleged graft involves repair and maintenance work at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, covering door and window repairs, external plastering, interior painting, and civil and sanitary works. Despite an estimated budget of nearly Tk 5.76 crore and lower bids submitted by several firms, the work order was reportedly handed to a firm that submitted a significantly higher quote. Payments were subsequently released without checking work quality or physical progress, causing widespread indignation among local business circles.
 
Alongside Superintending Engineer Zakir Hossain, several other officials have been implicated in the scheme, including Sub-Divisional Engineer Riyadun Un Nabi, Assistant Engineer Farhan Shahriar, and Sub-Assistant Engineer Shafiqul Islam. These officials allegedly colluded to control tenders, oversee project monitoring, and facilitate fake bill clearances in exchange for unethical benefits from contractors.
 
Saiful Islam Raju, proprietor of Madar Builders, along with several other contractors, publicly alleged that a fair competitive environment within the PWD has been completely destroyed. They stated that prioritizing a syndicate of select firms has deprived genuine contractors and led to systemic irregularities in project execution and bill settlements.
 
The complaint further details an extensive accumulation of undisclosed wealth by Superintending Engineer Zakir Hossain and his family members under the cover of his official position. He reportedly owns a personal vehicle valued at around Tk 1 crore and another vehicle worth Tk 90 lakh for family use. Furthermore, allegations reveal 10 FDR accounts in his name and 6 in his wife's name at Sonali Bank, along with 15 savings certificates registered under his children and close relatives. Significant undeclared assets and proxy bank accounts held under the names of his in-laws have also raised sharp questions regarding their legal income sources. He is additionally accused of embezzling crores in government funds by generating fake projects through three affiliated contracting firms.
 
To uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption, complainants have urged authorities to scrutinize work orders, tender notices, financial proposals, technical evaluation reports, contracts, measurement books (MB), work completion certificates, bill vouchers, inspection logs, and fund release files. They have also demanded an independent audit into the ownership of participating contractor firms and their business ties with PWD engineers.
 
Expressing frustration over the lack of visible action despite previous complaints submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other state bodies, aggrieved stakeholders called for immediate ACC intervention to probe Superintending Engineer Zakir Hossain’s off-the-books wealth, family transactions, and bank records. They reiterated the demand for an immediate travel ban. Concerned citizens and contractor associations warned of launching human chain demonstrations and protest rallies in front of the ACC and relevant government offices if a prompt, fair investigation is not conducted.
 
Efforts to reach Superintending Engineer Mohammad Zakir Hossain for comments via cell phone and WhatsApp messages went unanswered.