14 officials face irregularity charges in Shipyard Road project

An investigation report of 404 pages has raised serious issues in a government development project. It found delays, financial irregularities, and a DPP prepared without any survey. It also found that 13.51 crore taka allocated for the project sat in KDA’s own fund for almost two years.

The investigation committee has recommended departmental action against 14 officials of the Khulna Development Authority, also known as KDA. Even after the report was submitted, no visible action has been taken against the accused. Work inside KDA continues as usual, and many of the accused officials are still on regular duty. This raises the question of why action is moving so slowly after a government probe found clear fault.

A committee formed to look into delays and irregularities in the Khulna Shipyard Road widening and development project submitted its report to the Secretary of Housing and Public Works on August 31. According to sources, letters were then sent to the KDA Chairman to act against 11 officials under KDA, and to the Cabinet Division to act against three deputy secretaries on deputation.

One of the most important findings is about the 13.51 crore taka meant for the project. The report says this government money was moved into KDA’s own fund for nearly two years. The committee called this a clear violation of financial discipline.

Why was the project’s money moved into KDA’s own fund. Who made that decision. Which account did the money move from and to. Who approved the transfer. And what effect did this delay have on the project. These questions still have no clear answers.

The investigation also raised serious concerns about the early planning stage. The report says the DPP, or development project proposal, was prepared without any survey. A survey is important for judging a large infrastructure project’s feasibility, need, cost, land, and risks. Without that survey, the whole planning basis of the project comes into question.

The officials under investigation include Mr. S M Mahmudur Rahman, KDA member for development, Mr. Badiuzzaman, a former secretary, and Mr. Iqbal Hossain, the current member for administration. Others named are Mr. ATM Wahid Azhar, the former chief engineer, Mr. Kazi Sabirul Alam, the former superintending engineer, and Mr. Mojibur Rahman, the former executive engineer for the project.

The list also includes Mr. Md. Arman Hossain, the project director, Mr. Muntasir Mamun, the deputy project director, and Mr. Shamim Zehad, a former superintending engineer. Also named are Mr. Mehedi Hasan, a cashier, Mr. Palash Kumar Ghosh, an assistant accountant, Ms. Shahana Akter, an accountant for public works, Mr. Saidul Haque, an accounts officer, and Mr. M M Hossain Ali, a finance and accounts officer.

Sources say the contractor on the project, Ataur Rahman and Mahabub Brothers, has been ordered blacklisted. When officials and a contractor both bear responsibility on a government project, full accountability depends on carrying out action against both.

Some KDA staff, speaking without giving their names, claim that some of the accused are reaching out at different levels to protect themselves. They allege contacts are being made with the ministry and local influential figures to try to settle the matter quietly.

Shipyard Road is one of the important roads in Khulna. Local residents say the long delay in the project has caused years of traffic jams, dust, travel trouble, and business losses for city dwellers.

Civic leaders claim the direct and indirect financial loss from this delay could reach several hundred crore taka. Asked about carrying out the report’s recommendations, KDA Chairman Mr. Shafiqul Alam Mona said discussion with the ministry is ongoing and a decision will come soon.

He did not say when a decision would come, what administrative action would be taken against the accused officials, or whether any early steps have already been taken.

The investigation into the Shipyard Road project has ended. Questions have been raised about responsibility, and departmental action has been recommended. An order has also been given to act against the contractor. The one big question now is why KDA is moving so slowly to carry out the report’s recommendations.

When an investigation finds delay and financial misconduct in a government project, the next step should be a clear administrative process. This means hearing the accused, fixing responsibility, and deciding action under the rules. When this does not happen for a long time, it is fair to ask whether accountability will stop at just the investigation report.

For the Shipyard Road project, KDA now faces more than just a decision on the 14 officials. It also must fully answer why the project faced such long delays, why public money sat unused for so long, where the planning failed, and who bears final responsibility. The people of Khulna are waiting for that answer.