ACC finds evidence of corruption in LGED's Tk1,909cr post-flood B-Strong project
The ACC discovered evidence of abnormally high prices set for various project items even before the project activities began, which prompted today's raid
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found evidence of corruption in the Bangladesh Sustainable Recovery, Emergency Preparedness and Response Project (B-Strong) project of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).
The ACC's Enforcement Team disclosed this information following a raid at LGED's headquarters in Agargaon in the capital today (29 April).
They revealed that Tk1,909 crore was allocated for the B-Strong project for six districts in the Chattogram division — Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Chattogram, and Brahmanbaria — following the 2024 floods.
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The ACC discovered evidence of abnormally high prices set for various project items even before the project activities began, which prompted today's raid, said the enforcement team
"Excessive expenses were shown in multiple sectors of the B-Strong project. We collected various information during the raid. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project on 20 April," ACC Assistant Director Papan Kumar Saha said after the operation.
"The project's formal activities haven't started yet, but we came to investigate based on allegations of inflated pricing for various project items. The person who prepared the DPT for this project was not present at the office today," he added.
Papan said, "The price for each street solar light in the project was set at Tk72,000, yet the planning commission indicated that these solar lights are not necessary. While 60 motorcycles were proposed, the planning commission suggested purchasing only 36."
"The expenses shown for computers, laptops, various educational materials, and other items seemed abnormal. Additionally, the price for four laptops was set at Tk11 lakh," he added.
Of the Tk1,909 crore for this project, the World Bank will finance Tk1,647 crore, and the Bangladesh government will fund the remaining amount.
Regarding this matter, LGED headquarters' Assistant Chief Abdul Mannan said, "Our chief engineer is currently outside Dhaka. The project work hasn't started yet; it has only been presented to Ecnec."
Regarding the project corruption, he said, "If allegations of irregularities are found in any of our projects, action is immediately taken against those responsible, and they are suspended."
"Suspensions are going on wherever irregularities are taking place," Mannan added.
ACC raid at Narayanganj LGED office
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) conducted a raid at the LGED (Local Government Engineering Department) office in Bandar Upazila of Narayanganj.
On Tuesday afternoon, two ACC officials carried out the operation on the third floor of the Upazila Parishad building, where the LGED office is located.
During the raid, they reviewed documents from various projects over the past three years and collected information from the engineer in charge.
Briefing the media at 3pm, ACC Narayanganj office Deputy Director Moshiur Rahman said, "We were there to observe the work that has been done and is ongoing. There are often various complaints about LGED, and many projects are carried out. We are collecting and verifying those records."
Upazila LGED Engineer Shamsun Nahar said, "They came and asked for documents related to various projects from the last three years. Those were provided. They did not mention any specific complaints or issues of corruption."
