Evidence of irregularities, graft found in Padma Bridge consultant appointments: ACC chief

Highlights

• Case reopened in January after being dormant for over a decade
• ACC chair says previous commission suppressed evidence
• Procurement of materials duplicated, flawed CV assessed
• Final report expected soon; case to be formally reactivated
• New suspects may be added, earlier probe flaws under review

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found initial evidence of irregularities and corruption in the appointments of consultants for the Padma Bridge project, reigniting controversy over a case that had long been dormant.

At a media briefing held at the ACC headquarters in Dhaka today (1 July), Chairman Abdul Momen said the current commission had reopened the probe in January this year and already uncovered preliminary findings pointing to serious procedural violations and potential abuse of power.

"The previous commission dismissed the case through sheer force, despite there being enough evidence," Momen said. "We've already found signs of irregularities and corruption in consultant appointments for the Padma Bridge project during our latest inquiry."

He said the ACC is now examining whether the earlier commission had intentionally shielded those accused, and stressed that anyone found involved would be brought to justice. "The commission is now operating independently and will not spare anyone involved, no matter how influential."

Momen said large-scale government projects must strictly adhere to the Public Procurement Act (PPA) and Public Procurement Rules (PPR). However, in the Padma Bridge project, the evaluation committee responsible for consultant appointments was reshuffled multiple times "with dishonest intent or criminal motive".

He said certain materials and services, which should have been procured once and reused, were shown as newly procured multiple times. "Such duplications cannot be justified," he said, citing it as a common area for graft in large projects.

Momen also flagged concerns over joint evaluations of consultants, particularly irregularities in assessing CVs. "The committee did not hold essential meetings or collect crucial information," he said. "The earlier evaluation report appears to be flawed and incomplete – possibly submitted under pressure or for other reasons."

He added that the ACC's investigation officer would soon submit a full report, and based on the findings, the case would be formally reactivated.

When asked whether former officials involved in the earlier investigation – such as ex-secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, engineers Kazi Mohammad Ferdous and Riaz Ahmed Jaber, and former SNC-Lavalin executives – would be summoned again, Momen said new names would be included if uncovered during the current investigation.

"If there was a flaw or oversight on the part of the commission in the past, we'll correct it," Momen said. "Our initial inquiry suggests that even the Final Report Template may not have been adequate, or we failed to present it properly. We now await the full investigation report."

Case reopened after decade

The Padma Bridge corruption case, originally filed in 2012, involved accusations against seven individuals in connection with an alleged high-level bribery scheme linked to consultant appointments. 

At the time, the World Bank had committed $1.2 billion in credit for the bridge project. But citing "credible evidence" of corruption involving senior Bangladeshi officials, SNC-Lavalin executives, and other private individuals, the World Bank withdrew its funding in 2012.

Despite this, in 2014, the then ACC, led by Badiuzzaman and Shahabuddin Chuppu, abruptly dropped the case without explanation. Since reopening the case this year, the current commission has recovered key documents implicating former Bridges Division secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and others.

According to project records, the Padma Bridge was initially estimated to cost Tk10,161.75 crore when approved in August 2007. Delays and cost escalations eventually pushed the total to Tk30,193.39 crore.

After the World Bank withdrew, Bangladesh decided to build the bridge using domestic funding. The 6.15km bridge, opened in 2022.