Grave allegations of embezzling public funds under the guise of river dredging, administrative abuse of power, procurement and transfer rackets, and accumulating massive off-the-books wealth have surfaced against Saidur Rahman, Additional Chief Engineer of the Dredging Department at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA/Engineering Division). Exploiting his position as a prominent leader of the 'Bangabandhu Engineers Council' during the previous Awami League regime, he reportedly established an influential syndicate within the dredging department. Despite recent political shifts, the lack of effective administrative or legal action against him has sparked widespread outrage among agency employees and the public.
 
Tk 134 Crore Embezzled via Paper-Only Dredging:
At the core of the allegations is a capital dredging project spanning approximately 155 kilometers along the Bhogai and Kangsa rivers in Netrokona. Under the first phase of the 'Capital Dredging of 53 Inland Waterways Project', Tk 134.64 crore was allocated to extract nearly one crore cubic meters of sand and silt. Investigative sources reveal that while tender records were meticulously completed on paper through select contractor firms, actual silt removal fell far short of targets. In several stretches, heavy silt accumulation persisted on the riverbeds rather than being dredged, yet full payments were cleared in collusion with senior dredging officials. Although the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initially requested project documentation and initiated inquiries, the investigation was mysteriously stalled.
 
Questions Raised Over Wealth Disclosure and ACC Clearance:
In November 2020, the ACC issued a notice under Section 26 of the ACC Act 2004 requiring Saidur Rahman and his wife, Shamima Akhter, to submit details of their movable and immovable assets. A similar notice was issued to BIWTA’s then Deputy Director (Administration), Md. Sirajul Islam Bhuiyan. After years of delay, an official ACC letter signed by Director Md. Kamruzzaman on December 30, 2025 (Memo No. 00.01.0000.000.501.01.0037.17.15) declared the matter finalized, stating the allegations were unproven. However, aggrieved BIWTA staff allege that this clearance was obtained through an under-the-table deal involving substantial financial transactions following the political transition, demanding a fresh, independent probe.
 
Luxury Apartments, District Businesses, and Hidden Assets:
Under the cover of his official post, Saidur Rahman has allegedly accumulated extensive wealth in his and his family's names. Investigations point to multiple luxury apartments in Dhaka, including properties in Siddheswari and an 1,800-square-foot flat in Khilgaon. In his home district of Kurigram, he reportedly controls a major rod-and-cement dealership in the city center and a large brick kiln registered under his brother's name. Additionally, he is accused of using multiple private luxury vehicles for personal and family travel beyond his official entitlements.
 
Allegations of Concealed Dismissal and Questionable Credentials:
Questions have also been raised regarding Saidur Rahman's initial recruitment and academic credentials. Inquiries indicate that he was previously dismissed from the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) due to severe misconduct. In 2003, he reportedly secured his position at BIWTA by concealing his termination from LGED. The authenticity of his professional and educational certificates remains a subject of intense dispute within BIWTA.
 
Dredging Department Controlled by Syndicate:
Insiders speaking on the condition of anonymity stated that the BIWTA Dredging Department became a stronghold for a privileged syndicate under Saidur Rahman's leadership. The syndicate exercised total control over multi-crore taka procurement tenders, lucrative postings, and administrative transfers. Employees who dared to question these irregularities faced administrative harassment, denial of promotions, and severe workplace pressure.
 
Efforts to contact Additional Chief Engineer Saidur Rahman via telephone to obtain his response to these allegations went unanswered.