SM Golam Kibria Shamim paid two per cent commission to the chief engineers of the Public Works Department against every tender he secured in the last five years.
He said this to investigators during interrogation in connection with cases against him under Arms Act and Narcotic Control Act.
GK Shamim was well known for his method of paying hefty commission money in cash, according to the intelligence agency.
He is known as an influential contractor in the neighbourhoods of Sabujbagh, Basabo, Kamalapur and Motijheel. He has made headlines for reportedly influencing PWD officials to secure construction contracts of the PWD.
Two former PWD chief engineers were identified as Md Hafizur Rahman Munshi Tipu, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam and present acting chief engineer is Shahadat Hossain.
GK Shamim is known to be an influential contractor of the PWD and other government organizations.
He was placed on a 10-day remand in the cases filed under the Arms Act and Narcotics Control Act. In another case the court granted GK Shamim five days. He was placed on another five-day remand in the drugs case in which
he is the lone accused.
A senior official of the investigation agency told the Daily Observer on Sunday during interrogation. He described to the investigators how he managed to get the PWD tenders and how he paid bribes to the authority concerned.
PWD introduced the online tendering system (e-Tender) to facilitate to constructions process of its department. An internet based process wherein the complete tendering process-from advertising to receiving, submitting tender-related information-are done online.
This enables firms to be more efficient as paper-based transactions are reduced or eliminated, facilitating for a more speedy exchange of information.
However, e-Tender system was made questionable when Golam Kibria Shamim's firms GKB and Company (Pvt) Ltd bagged at least 22 construction projects with a total allocation of around Tk 60 billion, the sites include the RAB Headquarters, Government Secretariat and several hospitals.
RAB seized about Tk 20 million in cash, Tk 1.75 billion or fixed deposit receipt (FDR), alcohol and firearms during the raid on his business in Dhaka's Niketon on Friday.
The government is working several development projects under PWD. The ruling party is making rapid progress in terms of building infrastructure. Such initiatives are significant for strengthening the infrastructural backbone of the country, sources added.
