ACC sues ex-minister Obaidul Quader, 13 more over illegal flat

Obaidul Quader

Dhaka, Dec 8 — The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday filed a case against former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and 13 former senior government officials for allegedly abusing power to illegally construct and allocate residential flats on land acquired for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project.

The case was filed by ACC Assistant Director Khorhshed Alam, ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain confirmed to UNB.

According to the case statement, the accused are alleged to have misused their authority, acted in collusion, and violated legal procedures to formulate the *Long-Term Lease Policy 2018 for flats designated for permanent employees of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) and other associated departments. The charges have been brought under Sections 409/420/109 of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The ACC stated that during the 106th and 107th board meetings of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, the board members illegally approved proposals to construct residential buildings and grant long-term leases for flats without following any legal obligation. Former Senior Secretary of the Bridges Division Khandaker Anwarul Islam reportedly placed the proposal for the project and the subsequent leasing policy.

Investigators found that 40 acres of land were acquired to rehabilitate people affected by the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project. Although the acquisition gazette specified this purpose, the land was instead used to build residential flats for government officials under a 99-year permanent lease — a move that violated the *Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act 2017*, which requires prior approval from the Ministry of Land. No such approval was obtained, the ACC said.

The commission further noted that although publishing a government gazette is mandatory for enacting any law, rule, or policy, the 2018 long-term lease policy for BBA and associated staff was never formally gazetted. Moreover, under the *Bangladesh Bridge Authority Act 2016*, the authority is authorised to issue only temporary leases of land. Granting permanent leases through flat construction for officials therefore contravened the law, ACC officials said.

The accused named in the case include:

Obaidul Quader, former Minister, Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, Khandaker Anwarul Islam, former Senior Secretary, Bridges Division, Md Nazrul Islam, former Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Division, Kamal Uddin Ahmed, former Secretary, Public Security Division, Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, former Power Secretary, Abdul Jalil, former Secretary, Ministry of Land, Dr Jafar Ahmed Khan, former Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, former CAG and current Chairman of Sonali Bank, Mohammad Shahidul Haque, former Senior Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs Division, Zuena Aziz, former Principal Coordinator, Prime Minister’s Office, Md Mofazzal Hossain, former Secretary, Ministry of Railways, Kazi Shafiqul Azam, former Senior Secretary, ERD, Akhtar Hossain Bhuiyan, former Secretary, Ministry of Defence,Dr Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, former Secretary, Energy and Mineral Resources Division and ex-Chairman, NBR.

The ACC said the evidence gathered during preliminary investigation sufficiently proves the accused acted outside the law and violated mandatory procedures in executing the project. - UNB