A serious political and criminal controversy has erupted in Sunamganj following allegations that a sitting Member of Parliament associated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) demanded a bribe of 1 crore BDT (approximately £70,000) from a contractor and subsequently halted ongoing infrastructure development in the region.
The contractor, Shafiqul Islam, proprietor of Islam Traders and a resident of Badaghat in Tahirpur, formally submitted a written complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday. He extended his petition to the Chief Adviser’s Office on Wednesday, seeking an urgent investigation, personal protection for himself and his family, and an immediate end to unlawful interference in state-funded development projects.
The allegations focus on the construction of two major bridges—Muktirkhola-1 and Salampur—in Bishwambarpur upazila, under the Sunamganj-4 constituency (Sunamganj Sadar and Bishwambarpur). The project, valued at 87 crore BDT, has suffered repeated disruptions in recent weeks.
According to Mr Islam, the MP for Sunamganj-4, Nurul Islam Nurul, alongside his political associates, has systematically pressured him to pay 1 crore BDT. The contractor alleged that after he refused to comply with the extortion demands, local political operatives resorted to intimidation, phone threats, and targeted harassment.
Tensions escalated on Tuesday afternoon when MP Nurul Islam allegedly stopped at the Salampur bridge site while returning from a local event. The parliamentarian raised questions regarding the construction standards and demanded an immediate halt to the work. During the encounter, the MP’s entourage reportedly assaulted site workers. The driver of a road roller, Monir, a pay-loader operator, Kabir Ahmad, and the site supervisor, Hossain Ahmad, sustained injuries in the scuffle.
The complaint further details a broader pattern of harassment against the contractor. Mr Islam revealed that he was named as the 51st accused in an anti-terrorism lawsuit filed on 18 September following an unauthorized street rally in front of the Sunamganj Circuit House. Additionally, he was implicated as the 13th accused in a separate theft case registered at Jamalganj Police Station regarding the illegal harvesting of fish from the Kabilhar Beel fishery. Law enforcement officers subsequently raided his residence in Sylhet.
On 20 October, construction on the Muktirkhola-1 bridge was forcibly suspended twice. Mr Islam claimed that high-ranking members of local youth political wings had repeatedly called him, pressuring him to meet the MP to “settle” the matter.
MP Nurul Islam has strongly denied all charges, describing the allegations as baseless and politically motivated attempts to cover up poor workmanship. Speaking to reporters during a follow-up site visit on Wednesday alongside the Executive Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department, the lawmaker stated that local residents had complained about substandard guard wall construction and severe project delays.
“I do not know contractor Shafiq personally,” the MP asserted. “Allegations of extortion or forcible work stoppage are entirely fabricated. The contractor must prove who demanded money. My intervention was solely prompted by public grievances regarding slow progress and potential irregularities.”
Zahirul Islam, Executive Engineer of the Sunamganj Roads and Highways Department, confirmed that the department is pushing for timely completion and noted that formal administrative action will be taken if structural irregularities are identified.
