The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) writes to the Ministry of Public Administration for updated information on the corruption allegations against its Chief Engineer Habibur Rahman and three others from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The CAAB wrote to the Ministry on March 9. The Daily Observer obtained a copy of the letter.
The letter also asked updated information regarding corruption of three other engineers qualifying for the position of the Chief Engineer (CE). They are Shahidul Afroz, Zakaria Hossain and Subhashish Barua.
But it is alleged that the CAAB is hiding the four graft cases filed by the ACC against Habibur Rahman, the Chief Engineer.
The 300th board meeting on March 3 chaired by Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan, Chairman of CAAB. Other members of the board included, Air Cdre AKM Ziaul Haque, member Abu Saleh Md Mohiuddin Khan, member (Admin), Air Cdre Md Asif Iqbal, Air Cdre Mohammad Nayeemuzzaman Khan, Group Capt Md. Mukeet-ul-Alam Miah, and Habibur Rahman as Chief Engineer of CAAB took the decision to extend Habibur Rahman's tenure as chief engineer for another year on a contractual basis.
Regarding the appointment of Habibur Rahman as chief engineer despite the ACC case, Transparency International Bangladesh's TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman told the media at the time, "It is improper to promote a person who is accused of corruption and is being investigated by the ACC to the position of chief engineer. Those who promoted him should be held accountable."
On September 19, 2023, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism's CA-1 branch sent a letter to the ACC inquiring about corruption allegations against 14 CAAB officials and employees. In response, the ACC informed the Ministry about Habibur Rahman's alleged involvement in corruption.
However, despite this, on November 19, 2023, CAAB's board meeting promoted him to the position of Chief Engineer.
On January 27, the ACC filed a case against 19 individuals for embezzling thousands of crores of taka in the name of airport development.
The accused include former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's defence adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former senior secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Muhibul Haque, former joint secretary Janendranath Sarkar, former CAAB chairman M Mofidur Rahman, former chief engineer Md Abdul Malek, and current Chief Engineer (then Superintendent Engineer) Md Habibur Rahman.
The following day, the ACC filed a petition in court seeking a travel ban on Habibur Rahman and seven other key accused. Metropolitan Senior Special Judge imposed the ban, directing all border and immigration authorities to ensure they cannot leave the country.
Dr Md Jobair Alam, coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Coordination Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, wrote a letter to the Director General of the Special Security Force so that accused Habibur Rahman cannot brief the Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus regarding the under-construction Cox's Bazar airport last Friday. The authority stopped Habibur Rahman from briefing the Chief Adviser. Later, Superintending Engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority Aminul Hasib briefed the Chief Adviser about the progress of the construction work. Senior officials were present on the occasion.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan told media several time, "We nominated Habibur Rahman because we could not find a suitable officer."
Additionally, on February 23, the High Court issued a rule questioning why departmental action should not be taken against him. Despite these legal actions, efforts to appoint him as chief engineer are ongoing.
