The construction work given to GK Builders, owned by self-proclaimed Juba League leader GK Shamim, has almost stopped after his arrest. According to sources in the public works department (PWD), contracts for various construction work with GK Builders is likely to be cancelled. Multiple sources in the PWD told this correspondent that a powerful syndicate within the PWD was involved in helping GK Builders get contracts for all construction work.
If GK Builders failed to get any of the construction work, the firm owner bagged the tender through joint venture with another company, sources said. On condition of anonymity, an engineer of the PWD alleged that the department's ex-chief engineer, Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, PWD's ex-chief engineer Rafiqul Islam, executive engineer Md Ilias(Dhaka zone), executive engineer Md Shawkat (Dhaka zone), executive engineer Faruq Ahmed, Rafiqul Islam’s staff officer Suhrawardy and engineer Abdul Hye were members of the syndicate and beneficiaries of the tenders.
The PWD's ex-chief engineer Rafiqul Islam, who is nephew of the war criminal Ghulam Azam, was the main architect of the syndicate. The Independent ran a report regarding their corruption on June 11, 2016. “GK Builders is a limited company. One of the shareholders of the company has been arrested, but others are still there. If the shareholders fail to continue the construction work, we will take further action as per the work order agreement,” Shahadat Hossain, chief engineer of the PWD, told The Independent yesterday (Wednesday).
When asked whether the construction work had been stopped following Shamim's arrest, he said: "The work has not stopped, but has slowed down.” According to the PWD's chief engineer, 12 projects of the department, worth Tk. 1,800 crore, are being implemented solely by GK Builders. Besides, some other projects are also being implemented under joint venture with GK Builders, he said in reply to a query. When asked about action against corrupt officials in the PWD, Hossain said: “We are closely monitoring every work. Besides, different agencies are now investing the matter. The highest legal action will be taken if PWD officials are found involved in irregularities.”
No official can help any contractor get work in the present EGP system, he said in reply to another query. The public works and housing Minister and secretary have instructed the PWD to ensure transparency in the procurement process, the chief engineer said. The ex-chief engineer and other officials could not be contacted for their comment as they are on the run.
The Independent ran a news report regarding corruption of some PWD engineers on June 11, 2016. The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) had launched an investigation into alleged embezzlement of funds through false vouchers by some engineers of the PWD.
A section of corrupt officials, including a former chief engineer of the PWD, Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, the president and the secretary general of the PWD Officers’ Association, along with some contractors, had formed a syndicate to embezzle money.
The ACC letter had also asked the then chief engineer of the PWD, Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, to submit all records and documents on the work of the PWD Dhaka circle-1-2, PWD Sher-e-Bangla Nagar circle-3, PWD circle-4 (Azimpur), PWD Motijheel, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Mirpur, Savar, Manikganj and Gazipur circles.
Following this, Bhuiyan directed his circle officer on July 11, 2014 to write to the ACC seeking more time to submit the documents.
The then additional chief engineer of the PWD in Dhaka Zone, Rafiqul Islam (later chief engineer), Mizanur Rahman, former superintendent engineer of Dhaka circle-1, who is known as the right hand man of the former PWD chief engineer and the then superintendent engineer (planning) AKM Moniruzzaman, and also secretary general of the PWD Officers’ Association, were on the ACC list facing corruption charges.