Alimuzzaman : Former Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader and Executive Engineer of Dhaka Medical College Division under the Public Works Department (PWD), Mohammad Azmul Haque, has managed to secure a prestigious position despite a mountain of corruption and irregularities. Haque, who was previously suspended for corruption, has been appointed to a crucial posting at the Public Works Division of Dhaka Medical College. This appointment came after his suspension order was lifted, allegedly through financial influence and connections within the current regime.

According to sources, Azmul Haque, leveraging his ties with government ministers and secretaries, secured this position by offering large sums of money. Even after the downfall of the previous regime, Haque, a former BCL leader, continues to exert influence across the Public Works Department, utilizing the wealth he amassed through corruption. On October 2, 2024, a letter signed by PWD Chief Engineer Mohammad Shamim Akhter confirmed the appointment of Mohammad Azmul Haque as the Chief Engineer’s Staff Officer for Protocol, a highly important role.

Azmul Haque had initially been suspended on July 30, 2019, due to corruption charges, but with his return to power, he once again occupies a significant position within the department. During the 2022-23 financial year, Azmul Haque was entrusted with Tk 12 crore from the 245 Annual Purchase Plan (APP) and an additional Tk 10 crore for health sector projects, totaling Tk 22 crore. However, the allocation has been marred by allegations of mismanagement and corruption.

In defiance of the Chief Engineer’s directive to use the Limited Tender Method (LTM), Haque authorized tenders through the Open Tender Method (OTM). This move has raised suspicions of favoritism, as the method allowed Haque to award contracts to preferred contractors in exchange for hefty kickbacks. Furthermore, 30 percent of the projects have reportedly not been completed. One particularly egregious example is the cost of tiling and repairing seven toilets at DMC, which was inflated to Tk 1.14 crore.

Similarly, Tk 1.75 crore was allocated for the renovation of rooms, the gymnasium, and the boundary wall, with accusations of exaggerated expenses and incomplete work. There are also allegations that Tk 2.89 crore was fraudulently withdrawn under the guise of completed projects, although both students and faculty have questioned these figures, stating that the actual work performed was subpar. The financial mismanagement dates back to June 19, 2022, when Professor Md. Shafiqul Alam Chowdhury, then Vice-Principal of DMC, requested funding from the Ministry of Health for infrastructure improvements. The renovation was overseen by a committee chaired by Chowdhury, with other members including Dr. Shahriar Nabi and Dr. Pradyut Kumar Saha.

The committee approved the renovation work on September 19, 2022, but questions have since arisen over the transparency and quality of the work performed. Costs continued to balloon across various DMC facilities. For example, Tk 47 lakh was spent on repairing four toilets in Fazle Rabbi Hall, while Tk 25 lakh was allocated for bathroom renovations in the Dr. Alim Chowdhury (New) hostel.  The DMC renovations have been widely criticized for poor workmanship and inflated costs. Several students and faculty have voiced concerns about the quality of the materials used, with reports of low-grade tiles and missing fixtures in some toilets. Despite a substantial allocation for a gymnasium at Fazle Rabbi Hall, no such facility has been constructed.

When questioned about these irregularities, Dr. Pradyut Kumar Saha stated that he had raised the issue with the responsible engineer, Saiful Islam, who claimed that the costs were determined by the Ministry of Health. Saha acknowledged that the expenses were excessive and called for further investigation by the college authorities. The allegations surrounding Azmul Haque’s return to power have sparked outrage within the medical college, as students, doctors, and teachers demand accountability and transparency in the use of public funds. The Daily Morning Voice special correspondent tried to contact with Azmul Haque over phone for comments but he (Azmul) did not receive phone call.