Former Civil Aviation Engineer Arrested

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has taken into custody Habibur Rahman, the former Chief Engineer of Civil Aviation. The arrest was confirmed by an ACC source on Wednesday, 28 January, marking a significant development in one of the country’s high-profile corruption investigations.

Habibur had previously been named in four separate cases filed by the ACC on 28 January last year. Three of these cases relate to alleged embezzlement of several billion taka in major international airport development projects. As the current Chief Engineer of the Bangladesh Economic Zones and Infrastructure Development Authority (BEBICHOK), Habibur Rahman has been identified as a primary defendant in these cases.

Often referred to as the “scion of corruption” within Civil Aviation, Habibur’s career has allegedly been marked by a pattern of irregularities and unlawful gain. Sources within the ACC assert that he amassed substantial wealth far beyond his known sources of income throughout his tenure, primarily while serving as supervising engineer on major infrastructure projects.

The most prominent allegation concerns the expansion of Cox’s Bazar Airport. Government records indicate that all procedures for land acquisition were completed, and a government-approved payment of 5 billion taka was set aside for the acquired land. However, according to the ACC, Habibur deliberately delayed the disbursement of this cheque to facilitate bribery and illicit gains. This postponement resulted in significant project delays. Subsequently, the government had to approve triple the original payment, leading to a financial loss of approximately 10 billion taka.

Investigations further revealed that despite his responsibility as supervising engineer, Habibur leveraged his position and senior officials to evade accountability, allowing him to continue operations without immediate scrutiny. These findings underscore systemic weaknesses in project oversight and highlight the scale of corruption alleged under his supervision.

The following table summarises the four ACC cases against Habibur Rahman:

Authorities suggest that if proven, Habibur Rahman could be held accountable for some of the largest financial improprieties in Civil Aviation’s history. The ACC has emphasised that the ongoing investigations aim to recover misappropriated funds and ensure strict legal action.

This arrest is being seen as a decisive step in Bangladesh’s continued crackdown on corruption within major public infrastructure projects, sending a clear message that even high-ranking officials are not above the law.