Inaction encourages corruption

Special Correspondent:

The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) has turned into a den of corruptions and irregularities due to inaction by the higher authorities concerned as there is no precedent of action against the corruptions and irregularities even after publishing several news-reports by different media outlets.

Due to lack of attention by the high-ups, corrupt officials have become reckless to embezzle money in illegal means from different projects despite several reports on media.

Some officials have already established mountain of illegal assets with the bribery money on the nose of top bosses.

The higher authorities play silent role in this context as they get share from the corrupt officials regularly on the basis of works’ amount, some sources claimed.

It is worth noting that, there have been allegations of widespread corruption and irregularities against controversial Project Director (PD) Tabibur Rahman Talukder, who is now handling two projects simultaneously.

The controversial engineer Md. Tabibur Rahman Talukder was the Project Director (PD) in the ‘Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Project for Human Resource Development’ started during the Awami League government.

Despite allegations of massive corruption and commission trading in the World Bank’s financed project at Tk 1,882 crore, he was appointed as the PD of another new project on September 30 last year mysteriously. The budget of the new project is Tk 1,989 crore.

It has led to a storm of extreme criticism inside and outside the ministry and concerned department as the responsibility of two projects worth about Tk 3,871 crore has gone to the same officer’s hand violating previous records. Various sources have alleged that, he grabbed the post in exchange for about Tk 10 crore.

Earlier on November 8, 2025, Jugantor, an esteemed Bengali daily newspaper of the country published a report titled “Biswa Banker Wriner Prokolpe Durnitir Mohotsob: Gariber Latrine O Pani Sarborahe Pukurchuri” (Corruption fest in World Bank loan projects, Pond theft in the poor’s latrines and water supply) focusing massive corruptions and irregularities of PD Tabibur Rahman Talukder. Link of the news attached here- https://www.jugantor.com/national/1026187.

On November 13, 2025, primenewsbd.net published a report with a title “Nirbachoner Jonno Upodestar Proyojon 20 Koti, Shudhu Ek Prokousholi Thekei Pelen 60 Koti” (Adviser’s need Tk 20 cr for election, got Tk 60 crores from just one engineer). Link of the news has given here- https://primenewsbd.net/get-news/55712.

On March 2, 2025, Daily Rupali Bangladesh published a report with the title “Jonoshwasthye 1882 Koti Takar Prokolpe Horilut” (Plundering at Tk 1882 crore project funded by World Bank). Link: https://www.rupalibangladesh.com/special-report/36448.

On November 25, 2025, The Daily Sky published a report with the title “Rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene project of DPHE: Uncertainty looms over implementation in deadline” revealing various irregularities of PD Tabibur Rahman Talukder. Link: https://thedailysky.com/rural-water-supply-sanitation-and-hygiene-project-of-dphe-uncertainty-looms-over-implementation-in-deadline/. The newspaper also published the photo of a luxurious house owned by Tabibur Rahman Talukder in Sirajganj town.

On December 01, 2025, The Daily Sky also published another report with the title “DPHE: Extension process of Tabibur’s project sparks concern” disseminating various discrepancies of the project and anomalies of Tabibur Rahman. Link: https://thedailysky.com/dphe-extension-process-of-tabiburs-project-sparks-concern/.

Earlier on November 21, 2025, The Daily New Nation published a report “PHED: How Tabibor holds multiple positions despite corruption”. Link: https://dailynewnation.com/phed-how-tabibor-holds-multiple-positions-despite-corruption/.

Besides, many other media have published several news-reports on Tabibur’s misdeeds around the projects. But, there is a surprising matter that, no action has yet been taken against the officials involved with the corruption and anomalies. In contrary, the corrupt officials have given various special privileges, sources said.

Seeking anonymity, a senior official of the DPHE said, “We don’t know, how Tabibur has amassed such mountain like assets despite being a government servant? Besides, it is impossible to establish an eight storied building with salary’s money? Not only that, it is not a matter of joke to purchase several flats, plots and cars with the job salaries. Even after so many allegations, how he is still serving at his position, it has raised question over the transparency of the higher authorities.

On the other hand, on December 24, 2025, The Daily Sky published another report titled “DPHE: Goal of ‘Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene Project in 10 prioritized municipalities’ may not be achieved” focusing irregularities of an integrated sanitation project. Link: https://thedailysky.com/dphe-goal-of-integrated-sanitation-and-hygiene-project-in-10-priority-municipalities-may-not-be-achieved/.

According to an investigation, it is learnt that, massive irregularities are going on in the project in Sirajganj with the negotiation between Md. Rokonuzzaman, Executive Engineer of DPHE in Sirajganj and the concerned construction firms. Though, the work of installing 4000 semi-pacca sanitary latrines is going on in two phases in the municipal town at a cost of around TK 12.60 crore, most of the latrines have been installed ignoring schedule. Numberless bricks, less quantity of cement and sub-standard materials are being used in the latrines’ construction taking the advantage of poor and illiterate beneficiaries’ silence. Most of the poor beneficiaries are unknown about their rights and exact allocation against each latrine. This is why, they can’t raise their voice.

According to the schedule, on average the cost of each latrine is estimated to be around Tk 34,000. Excluding VAT and tax, each latrine is expected to cost around Tk 28,000. However, due to the use of low-quality bricks, sand, cement, wood and tin, the expenditure of per latrine is not crossing Tk 15,000. Remaining around Tk 15,000 is being pocketed against each latrine. Again, to cover up the irregularities, a journalist has strictly been given sub-contract for the work, so that no media courage to publish any news about these.

However, on December 28, 2025, online portal bdreports24.com published a report in this regard with the title “IsDB-backed DPHE sanitation project faces criticism”. Link: https://bdreports24.com/isdb-backed-dphe-sanitation-project-faces-criticism/.

On the same day, Bangladesh News, an English daily newspaper published a report on page-9 on the same issue.

During a spot visit, it was found that, poor quality bricks have been used in each latrine and sand is being used highly to reduce use of cement. Below standard wood and tin were also used in most of the latrines. But, the recipients don’t dare to open mouth in this regard as they are getting these at a free of cost.

The photo shows that a man hit the latrine’s structure with his leg to breach it after days of construction. Later, he was able to breach that by the hit of leg. Photo: TDS

There is allegation that, top to bottom of the DPHE including PD SM Shamim Ahmed realize share from the project funds. As a result, no action is being taken about the anomalies even after publishing several reports on media.

No one of the concerned officials respond the phone call, while attempted to reach them. Even they did not reply of the SMS.