The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating allegations of amassing illegal wealth against at least 50 officials and engineers through corruption in the power, energy, and mineral resources sector.
There are allegations of embezzlement of thousands of crores of taka against Nasrul Hamid Bipu, former state minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, from different projects in the power sector.
An investigation by Bangladesh Post revealed that Golam Mostafa, an influential official of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), was appointed as Executive Director (Finance) in 2015.
In the past ten years, the term of his contractual job has been extended several times with the help of the former state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. He still holds the office.
In the complaint lodged with the ACC, it is claimed that he has built several multi-storey buildings in Banasree area of the capital and also amassed wealth at his village home in Cumilla.
At the beginning of this year, engineer QM Shafiqul Islam, who was a project director at Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB), a state-owned organisation associated with the Rooppur nuclear power plant, was appointed as the Executive Director (operations) of DPDC.
In the complaint filed with the ACC, it is alleged that he was appointed to this post by a senior secretary in exchange for a huge sum of money. Now he is allegedly involved with illegal transfers, promotions, and appointments at Bangabandhu Diploma Engineering Council, works as his trusted accomplice in these unethical activities.
Both of them are accused of making most of illegal transactions and unethical contracts with customers. Before this, the victims complained to various departments about their corrupt activities but could not find any justice because of their political influence.
Engineer Jagadish joined DESCO as an assistant engineer from Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board in 2005. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in 2014, superseding his seniors. In 2015, the DESCO Board of Directors recommended his appointment as Executive Director (Engineering), a position he has held since then.
ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmin told the media that the investigation into all complaints will begin soon. She said that the Anti-Corruption Commission is actively dealing with the issues and that a thorough investigation will be conducted. She further said that they will take cognizance of these complaints.
The ACC Secretary stated that complaints regarding the power, energy, and mineral resources sectors received between 2015 and 2024 are under close scrutiny. Approximately fifty individuals have been identified as suspects, and investigations have commenced.
Those who are on the possible list made based on the complaints filed with the ACC include: Former Managing Director of Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) Md Kawsar Amir Ali, DESCO Executive Director (Engineering) Engineer Jagadish Chandra Mandal, DESCO Executive Director (Operation) Engr Md Zakir Hossain, Sub-Divisional Engineer of DESCO and General Secretary of Bangabandhu Diploma Engineering Council Hafizur Rahman (Swadhin), Former Chairman of Rural Electrification Board Md Selim Uddin, Former Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) ASM Alamgir Kabir, Chief Engineer of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) (SO & SCADA) Mohammad Shahed Mahbub Bhuya, DPDC Chief Engineer (Central) Md Jahangir Alam, DPDC Acting Chief Engineer (Dhanmondi Region) AM Mustafa Kamal, DPDC Superintending Engineer (Distribution Planning) Sreebash Chandra Biswas, DPDC Superintending Engineer (SC & SCADA) Md Abdur Razzak, DPDC Sub-Divisional Engineer of Bangsal Division Mahbub Hossain, DPDC Executive Engineer of Kamrangirchar Division Ehsanuzzaman, DPDC Executive Engineer of G2G project Rajibul Hadi, DPDC Engineer of G2G project Tariqul Islam Titu, Engineer of G2G project Faiz Karim, DPDC Executive Engineer of Shitalakshya Division Golam Morshed, DPDC Executive Engineer of Kajla Division Rashedul Islam, DPDC Deputy Assistant Engineer of Fatulla Division Sanwar Hossain, DPDC Deputy Assistant Engineer of Shitalakshya Division Mahbub Alam Molla, DPDC Shyampur Division Assistant Engineer Akram Hossain, DPDC Deputy Assistant Engineer of Postogola Division Shahadat Hossain, former DPDC Executive Director (Operation) A T M Harun-or-Rashid and other former and current officers of DPDC, DESCO, Rural Electrification Board and PDB.
