One more PWD engineer faces fresh scrutiny

A senior Public Works Department (PWD) engineer is facing renewed scrutiny over his alleged role in transfers and postings, recruitment to 669 posts and an earlier Tk10 lakh pay-order controversy, bringing the department’s influential Establishment Branch under the spotlight.

Mohammad Sarwar Jahan, a Superintending Engineer in the Establishment Branch, has denied the allegations. The PWD has formed an inquiry committee to investigate complaints against him, while allegations have also reportedly been submitted to government authorities, including the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Questions over Jahan’s conduct first arose from an incident during his tenure as Executive Engineer of the Gazipur Public Works Division.

Universal Engineering, a contractor engaged in supplying an HT cable fault locator machine for Kashimpur Jail-2, had deposited a Tk10 lakh bank pay order as security. The company later alleged that the pay order was encashed without its knowledge.

Following the complaint, the PWD formed an inquiry committee on August 5, 2023. According to documents related to the case, the committee found the allegation of unauthorised encashment substantiated and termed the conduct misconduct under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

Jahan subsequently faced departmental proceedings, submitted a written explanation and appeared at a personal hearing. He sought forgiveness, saying it was his first offence and assuring the authorities that he would be more careful in future.

The ministry ultimately issued him a warning and closed the case. His subsequent posting to the Establishment Branch placed him in a more influential position, with responsibilities involving transfers, postings and promotions of PWD officials.

Since then, complaints have alleged that Jahan exercised undue influence over personnel decisions and maintained an informal network within the department. 

The allegations intensified in March 2026, when transfer orders involving more than 50 executive engineers were reportedly issued in a single day.

The ministry also directed that transfer and promotion files should not be processed without prior approval.

Meanwhile, the recruitment of 669 employees in grades 14 to 20 has created another controversy.

The PWD issued the recruitment circular in 2025, accepting applications from October 1 to 31. The department later recruited 541 candidates against the 669 advertised posts, leaving 128 vacancies to be filled from a waiting list.

The waiting list was published on the PWD website on May 21 but was subsequently removed.