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Published : 28 Aug 2025, 10:56 PM
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has brought charges against former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader and three senior officers over alleged corruption and abuse of power in the construction of the Karnaphuli Tunnel.
They allegedly caused waste and losses of Tk 5.85 billion.
ACC Deputy Director Sirajul Haque lodged the case on Thursday at Dhaka’s Integrated District Office-1, said the Director General Akhtar Hossain.
The other suspects are former executive director of the Bridges Division Khandker Anwarul Islam, former chief engineer Kabir Ahmed, and former director Alim Uddin Ahmed.
The case alleges that the suspects bypassed recommendations from the negotiation committee and added three unnecessary works to the project, inflating costs and leading to huge losses.
The first announcement of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River came from former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in September 2010. In August 2013, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Arup Hong Kong JV submitted the final feasibility report.
But traffic projections have since fallen far short.
Between October 2023 and July 2025, just 2.55 million vehicles used the tunnel -- only 13.59 percent of the target. Revenue reached Tk 672.6 million, while maintenance costs soared to Tk 2.05 billion, forcing the government to cover monthly losses averaging Tk 63 million.
The case claims officials deliberately set unrealistic targets to secure approval, leaving taxpayers burdened. Promised economic and social benefits have also failed to materialise.
CCCC’s bid was $679.16 million, but the negotiation committee recommended $646 million. That advice was ignored, inflating the budget.
The first information report also alleges violations of the Public Procurement Act in hiring foreign experts, and that three extra components -- service areas, monitoring software, and a tugboat -- were added despite no expert recommendation.
