PM orders probe into two CAAB engineers over alleged corruption

Move follows The Finance Today investigation into Aminul Hasib’s alleged illicit wealth; committee asked to report within four working days

The government has formed a three-member committee to investigate allegations of corruption, irregularities in airport development projects and procedural violations involving two engineers of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), following a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The decision came after the prime minister reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the authorities’ failure to take action against Executive Engineers Aminul Hasib and Moidul Rahman Md Maudud, despite allegations against them and ongoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigations.

The committee was formed on September 29, following discussions at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). It has been asked to submit its findings within four working days.

Planning State Minister Zonayed Saki confirmed the formation of the committee to journalists after the meeting.

According to ECNEC sources, the committee is headed by Dr Md Manjurul Islam, director general of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED). Its other members are Mohammad Salah Uddin, director of the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority, and Nishat Jahan, director of IMED.

The committee will examine cost revisions and implementation delays in development projects involving the Jashore, Rajshahi and Saidpur airports. It will also scrutinise procurement procedures, compliance with approval conditions and the circumstances surrounding the promotions of the two engineers.

Hasib was the project director for the three airport development projects.

PM raises questions over lack of action

The issue reportedly came up during discussions on cost revisions to the third terminal project and the development projects of three other airports.

When the prime minister sought to know what action had been taken against the two engineers, officials reportedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, prompting him to order a formal investigation.

Contacted for comment, CAAB Member (Administration) SM Lablur Rahman said the authority was discussing possible measures.

"We will take action based on the findings of the investigation committee," he said.

Investigation follows media exposé

The probe follows an investigative report published by The Finance Today on August 13, which raised allegations of corruption, abuse of power and undisclosed assets involving Hasib.

The report alleged that Hasib had accumulated substantial assets in Dhaka and Khulna, including properties held in the names of others. It also raised questions about publishing businesses worth crores of taka in Daulatpur, Khulna, allegedly operated in the names of his in-laws' relatives.

The allegations further include multiple plots, a luxury apartment in Uttara and possible money transfers abroad.

The Finance Today is investigating these allegations further and plans to publish additional reports.

ACC letter sparks controversy over promotion

Questions over Hasib's promotion intensified after an ACC letter dated March 11, 2026, initially informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism that no cases involving Hasib and Maudud were pending investigation or trial.

The letter, signed by ACC Director Mohammad Nazmul Hasan, identified the two officials as executive engineers at CAAB.

Following the letter, Hasib was promoted from executive engineer to superintending engineer, receiving full responsibility for a position he had reportedly held on an acting basis since 2023.

However, the ACC later acknowledged that the letter contained incorrect information and issued a replacement letter, retaining the original date and reference number.

The revised letter confirmed that both engineers were accused in separate ACC cases filed on January 27, 2025, and that investigations were ongoing.

According to the revised communication, Hasib is accused No. 9 in Case No. 85 filed with the ACC's Integrated District Office, Dhaka-1. Maudud is accused No. 9 in Case No. 84 filed with the same office.

Engineers named in Tk 812 crore embezzlement cases

In January 2025, the ACC filed four cases against 19 people, including former military official Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over alleged embezzlement of Tk 812 crore from several airport development projects.

ACC case documents show that Hasib was named as the ninth accused in a case involving alleged embezzlement of Tk 150 crore from the Cox's Bazar Airport development project.

Maudud was named as the ninth accused in another case involving alleged embezzlement of Tk 212 crore from the Osmani International Airport expansion project.

Both cases are reportedly being investigated by the ACC's Money Laundering Unit.

Despite receiving the revised ACC communication, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism reportedly sent several letters to CAAB seeking action against the two officials.

In its latest letter on September 10, the ministry asked CAAB to promptly inform it of the measures taken. However, no response regarding any action had been received, according to sources at the authority.

Several CAAB officials alleged that the ministry's directives had not been acted upon despite repeated communications.

Questions over reinstatement and promotion

Hasib was suspended by CAAB in November 2019 over allegations of corruption in the Cox's Bazar Airport project, according to information cited in the earlier investigation.

He was reinstated in 2021 following a recommendation reportedly made by former minister and lawmaker Colonel (Retd) Faruk Khan.

In 2023, he was reportedly given acting responsibility as a superintending engineer. He continued in the position for nearly four years before receiving full responsibility following the ACC's initial letter.

There are also allegations that money was paid to secure an ACC clearance and promotion. These claims could not be independently verified.

Questions have also been raised over Hasib's overseas travel. He reportedly visited Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom between December 21 and 28 last year without properly informing the authorities.

During the trip, he allegedly lost his passport and returned to Bangladesh with assistance from the authorities. No disciplinary action was reportedly taken over the incident.

Hasib was unaware of probe

When contacted, Hasib told The Finance Today that he was unaware of the formation of the investigation committee.

Asked about his promotion, he said, "That was the ACC's mistake."

He did not respond to repeated phone calls and text messages seeking his comments on the allegations raised in the newspaper's earlier investigation.

Meanwhile, a section of CAAB officials has described the allegations against him as baseless and motivated.

Maudud's response to the latest allegations could not be obtained before publication.

Further reports on alleged assets in pipeline

The Finance Today's investigation has also raised questions about Hasib's alleged ownership of multiple plots, a luxury apartment in Uttara and business interests in Khulna reportedly held in the names of relatives.

The newspaper plans to publish further reports examining the alleged assets, business connections and possible overseas financial transactions.

The findings of the newly formed committee are expected to clarify the alleged irregularities in the airport development projects, the role of the two engineers and the administrative decisions surrounding their promotions.