The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has temporarily suspended Md. Saifuzzaman, Executive Engineer (Civil) of the Department of Public Works, following allegations of misappropriating government funds, abuse of power, and corruption. The suspension was announced in an official notification signed by the Ministry’s Secretary, Md. Nazrul Islam, on Tuesday, 3 February.
According to the notification, Saifuzzaman is currently serving as Executive Engineer (Civil) at the Lalmonirhat Public Works Division. Previously, he held the same position at Dhaka Public Works Division-4, where the alleged misconduct took place.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday evening, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Md. Alamgir Hossain, stated that during his tenure at Dhaka Public Works Division-4, Saifuzzaman reportedly approved the expenditure of BDT 6.3197 crore for the Supreme Court Record Building Construction Project without obtaining the necessary approvals under DPP (Development Project Proposal), RDP (Revised Development Proposal), or HOPE guidelines. Instead, a single project package was unlawfully divided into eight separate packages, and tenders were solicited through the Engineering Procurement Method (EPM) in violation of regulations.
Hossain further explained that despite bills being submitted by the eight contracted companies, there was no evidence that the corresponding work had been carried out. The eight contractors’ accounts indicate that in the 2023–2024 fiscal year, a total of BDT 631.97 crore was recorded as expenditure, allegedly without any actual work having been performed.
Saifuzzaman’s suspension is temporary, and he will continue to receive standard allowances as per government regulations during this period. The Ministry has formed an investigative committee to verify all financial records, assess the irregularities, and recommend further administrative or legal actions if necessary.
For clarity, the key details of the case are summarised below:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Officer Name | Md. Saifuzzaman |
| Position | Executive Engineer (Civil) |
| Current Posting | Lalmonirhat Public Works Division |
| Previous Posting | Dhaka Public Works Division-4 |
| Allegations | Misappropriation of government funds, abuse of power |
| Total Amount Involved | BDT 6.3197 crore |
| Fiscal Year | 2023–2024 |
| Project | Supreme Court Record Building Construction |
| Irregularities | Single project divided into 8 packages without approvals; no evidence of work completed |
| Status | Temporarily suspended; allowances continuing as per regulations |
| Investigative Action | Committee formed to verify all records and report findings |
The incident has raised serious questions about financial oversight and governance within the public works sector. Authorities have emphasised that corrective measures, including tighter monitoring mechanisms and stricter compliance protocols, will be implemented to prevent similar abuses in future projects.