Upazila Project Officer Caught With Bribe

In Feni’s Sonagazi Upazila, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) caught the Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO), Mohammad Al Saeed, and his assistant Abu Naser red-handed while accepting a bribe of one lakh taka. The arrests were made on Thursday afternoon from the PIO’s office.

According to sources at the ACC’s Noakhali regional office, the incident relates to five completed bridge projects in Sonagazi. The subcontractor, Humayun Kabir, had submitted his bills for payment. Allegedly, the PIO and his assistant demanded 12 lakh taka as a bribe to release the payment. Initially, Kabir refused, and his bills were withheld. Later, he agreed to pay a bribe, submitting five and a half lakh taka as the first instalment. The remaining one lakh taka was to be delivered on Thursday, which led to the arrests.

The ACC team had been monitoring the situation closely and apprehended the officers as they received the bribe. The full amount was recovered from the scene.

ACC Noakhali Regional Deputy Director, Md. Faruk Ahmed, stated that the formal complaint was lodged on 23 February by the subcontractor Humayun Kabir. Based on this complaint, the ACC launched a targeted operation. Faruk Ahmed also confirmed that Mohammad Al Saeed had allegedly collected five lakh taka in bribes from other projects in the past.

The ACC has indicated that both individuals will face legal proceedings. Assistant Director Chinmoy Chakraborty is preparing to file a formal case against the two.

This operation highlights the ACC’s commitment to tackling corruption within local government offices and sending a clear message that bribery and financial misconduct will not be tolerated. Officials emphasized that monitoring and scrutiny of upazila-level project activities would continue to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Sonagazi incident has drawn significant attention locally, with citizens expressing concerns over corruption in project management. Experts note that such corruption not only delays project completion but also increases project costs, affecting public trust in government initiatives.

With the bribe recovered and the accused under arrest, the ACC has underscored that all levels of project implementation will be subject to strict oversight. This case serves as both a warning and a demonstration of proactive measures against graft in Bangladesh’s local development projects.