Allegations of irregularities in Kaliakair Municipality are 'baseless': Former mayor
“The technical committee evaluates the bids, and the competent authority approves the selected firm. My role was only to officially invite tenders and sign the contracts,” he said.
Amid an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation into a tender process in Kaliakair Municipality, former mayor Md Mazibur Rahman has dismissed media reports implicating him, calling the allegations "baseless and politically motivated."
He made the remarks at a press conference held at his office in the Palli Bidyut area of Kaliakair today (9 November), strongly protesting the allegations.
In a written statement, Mazibur said, "A government agency is investigating the allegations. Nothing has been proven yet, and verification is still underway. Before any findings, is it fair to socially and politically stigmatise an elected representative through a media trial? I leave that question to the conscience of the media."
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He alleged that certain electronic, print, online, and social media outlets had published false and motivated news against him. Protesting those reports, he urged the media to publish objective and evidence-based journalism.
Mazibur added that the mayor has no role in selecting contractors for municipal projects. "The technical committee evaluates the bids, and the competent authority approves the selected firm. My role was only to officially invite tenders and sign the contracts," he said.
"By awarding the work to the lowest bidder, I saved the state Tk58 lakh. Yet, ahead of the election, my political rivals are spreading false propaganda to discredit me," he added.
Mazibur said tenders for the same project were invited twice, and the work was eventually awarded to the lowest bidder in the second round, fully in accordance with the rules.
He alleged that his political opponents were spreading misleading information because he sought party nomination from the BNP for the upcoming national election, in an attempt to hinder his candidacy.
Earlier on Thursday (6 November), a team from the ACC district office carried out a raid at the Kaliakair Municipality Office following allegations that development work orders totalling about Tk13.92 crore were issued based on forged documents.
During the visit, officials examined various project documents and collected tender-related papers.
