Rezaul Karim Reza: Serious allegations of corruption, abuse of power and accumulation of illegal wealth have been raised against Md. Sharif Hossain, Supervising Engineer (Current Charge) of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in the Kushtia region. Legal experts say some of the allegations may fall under Section 409 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, which provides for life imprisonment in cases of criminal breach of trust by a public servant.
According to LGED sources, complaints against Sharif Hossain date back several years and involve multiple postings. Former LGED Executive Engineer Kazi Abdus Samad reportedly submitted a written application to the National Security Intelligence (NSI), requesting the exclusion of Sharif Hossain’s name from the promotion list to the post of Supervising Engineer, citing allegations of corruption at various stages of his career.
Records and sources indicate that Sharif Hossain was previously suspended while on deputation to a city corporation over corruption-related complaints. He was also temporarily suspended during his tenure as Executive Engineer in Bandarban for allegedly issuing work orders against fake performance securities. Further allegations suggest that he held key project positions during the tenure of the former Awami League government, including serving as Project Director of a major development project covering Cumilla, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur.
Sharif Hossain is accused of collecting illegal commissions from contractors while overseeing infrastructure projects and of demanding unauthorized payments during the approval of divided estimates while posted in the Dhaka region. He also faced departmental action in connection with maintenance work irregularities, though the punishment was reportedly limited to a warning.
Additional allegations include tender manipulation, favoritism toward selected contractors, approval of fake or irregular bills, and irregular advance payments during postings in Jessore, Cox’s Bazar, Natore, Bandarban and Dhaka North City Corporation. Complaints during his city corporation tenure reportedly led to his withdrawal in 2021.
Alleged Disproportionate Assets:
Sharif Hossain is also accused of acquiring assets disproportionate to his known income, including multiple residential flats in Dhaka, land in Purbachal, a building in the Bashundhara area, and a house in Narail. Allegations also point to substantial funds held in various bank accounts under his and other names.
Relevant Laws:
Under Section 409 of the Penal Code, 1860, financial misconduct by a public servant is punishable by life imprisonment. The Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 criminalizes the acquisition and concealment of illegal assets, prescribing imprisonment and fines. Civil service experts note that promotions amid unresolved allegations may conflict with existing service rules.
Response:
When contacted, Md. Sharif Hossain denied all allegations, calling them false and baseless.
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