Special Correspondent:

Despite massive corruption, irregularities and controversy, how Tabibor Rahman Talukder, Project Director of “Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Project for Human Resource Development” in the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) is occupying  one after another position that questioned the role and transparency of the concern ministry and incumbent government.

There is an allegation that, Tabibor Rahman Talukder, member of Bangabandhu Engineers’ Parishad, amassed crores of taka and siphoned bulk portion of the money abroad through massive corruption and irregularities in the ‘Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Project for Human Resource Development’ by abusing his sole power as Project Director (PD).

Being a native of Kazipur Upazila in Sirajganj district, he exerted influence at his workplace with the blessings of Tanvir Shakil Joy, son of Awami League leader late Mohammad Nasim and former MP for Sirajganj-1 (Kazipur) constituency.

Under the Project, the work of laying pipelines, installing deep tube-wells, constructing overhead tanks and setting up water treatment plants in 30 districts of the country began in October 2021 with a loan from the World Bank (WB).

Although, the project deadline was set until this year, the work has not even been completed halfway. There are allegations of unprecedented corruption and anomalies in this project involving Tk 1,882 crore.

It is alleged that, being blessed by the Awami League government, he himself has been carrying several contracting firms with different names to deceive the eyes of others. He has also embezzled crores of taka by giving work to preferred contractors instead of giving work to the lowest bidder and tactfully provided work to the second, third, fourth and fifth bidders on the list.

Insiders alleged that, Executive Engineers were helpless under his influence. He himself dealt directly with the contractors ignoring concerned engineers. He is accused of taking 2-5 percent advance on each tender. Same percent of money were realized from the contractors during payment of the bills.

Seeking anonymity, an officer of PHED said that, “There have been so many irregularities in the project of Tabibur Rahman Talukder that the tender specifications were not followed in most of the works and PPR has reportedly been violated in the tender. About 80 percent of the public toilets built under the project have already become unfit for use and abandoned.”

He further said, “Tabibur has embezzled the project money in collusion with the contractors and built up huge wealth at home and abroad. He has purchased multiple plots and flats in the capital Dhaka and huge lands in Sirajganj on the names of his two wives. He is owner of multistoried buildings. Besides, as per the rules, it is not possible to hold the position of project director of two projects at the same time.”

Despite allegations of serious corruption and commission trade, he was appointed as the PD of another new project on September 30 that grows extreme criticism inside and outside the ministry and the department. The budget of the new project is about Tk 1,989 crore.

In a conversation with his close friends, Tabibur himself said that, he had to spend Tk 20 crores in two phases to get the positions of PD.

According to those close to him, this money had to be paid through an influential circle active around a top figure in the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.

Currently, he has started the race to sit on the chair of Chief Engineer (CE) of PHED by paying a bribe of about 400 million taka to the same group.

Although the ministry has already given Abdul Awal routine charge as the Chief Engineer, clever Tabibar is still waiting for the next opportunity.

If Tabibur succeeds in this task, it will create an incredible precedent to become the Chief Engineer by surpassing 23 people in seniority.

Meanwhile, it has known that, ACC has brought the matter under their scanner.

EFFORT TO AVERT RESPONSIBILITY OF GRAFTS AND ANOMALIES:

Tabibor was officially included as member no-9 in the 11-member Bangabandhu Engineers’ Parishad committee of DPHE approved on August 3, 2021. However in 2025, he has tried to evade responsibility for past misdeeds by publishing advertisement on the front page of various national dailies including Dainik Ittefaq, Dainik Nayadiganta and Dainik Kalerkantho on September 16, 2025 with the title “Protest letter against inclusion of name as a member in the list of Bangabandhu Engineers’ Parishad without my knowledge”, which has termed as ridiculous by his colleagues.

While contacted over cell phone, Tabibor said, “I am no longer the same person, I was before. I have become more mature now. So there is no point in writing. Write whatever you can. I have done everything after managing all concerned.”