Staff Reporter:

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has received a formal complaint seeking an investigation into Subrata Devnath, Deputy Director (Engineering) of BRTA Dhaka Metro Circle-3 (Diabari, Uttara), over allegations of widespread corruption, bribery, and illicit asset accumulation.

The petition, filed by the general secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Autorickshaw Drivers and Workers Union, details series of financial irregularities spanning over a decade across multiple BRTA circles.

According to the complaint, Subrata entered the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) as an Assistant Director in 2011 by leveraging high-level political connections. Shortly after his appointment, he allegedly set up syndicates to manipulate CNG autorickshaw registrations, vehicle replacements, ownership transfers, and internal staff promotions.

The petition highlights a four-month tenure at the BRTA Chattogram Metro office in 2018, where Subrata allegedly colluded with a group of local showroom dealers during the scrapping and replacement of approximately 2,500 older-model CNG autorickshaws. Transport operators were reportedly forced to pay Tk 3 lakh per vehicle, generating an estimated Tk 75 crore in kickbacks.

Following complaints from local vehicle owners, Subrata was transferred to Dhaka Metro Circle-2. The complaint alleges that during his posting there, he collected Tk 10 crore by demanding Tk 50,000 per unit for 2,000 autorickshaw replacements. He is also accused of amassing an additional Tk 5 crore by taking Tk 1 lakh per vehicle for 500 new autorickshaw registrations while holding temporary charge of the Dhaka District Circle.

Upon his promotion to Deputy Director in 2022, Subrata was stationed at the BRTA headquarters, where he oversaw inter-district bus route permits. During this period, he allegedly issued unauthorized route permits for nearly 400 sleeper buses across the country.

The complaint further states that the BRTA official laundered his illegal proceeds abroad, acquiring luxury properties, vehicles, and commercial ventures in India under various names, alongside holding multiple residential flats in Dhaka.

The anti-graft watchdog has been urged to launch a thorough inquiry into the claims and initiate legal action based on the findings.