ACC raids Rangamati DPHE office over tender irregularities

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raided the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) office in Rangamati on Wednesday over allegations of tender irregularities and the use of substandard construction materials.

The ACC team conducted the operation from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and later inspected the relevant project sites. Officials collected documents related to tenders, work orders and bid evaluations.

ACC Deputy Assistant Director Mamunur Rashid said there were allegations that contracts for wash block construction were awarded to higher bidders instead of the lowest bidders and that tenders were reissued without proper explanation.

There were also allegations of substandard materials and irregularities in three water tank projects costing around Tk 21 crore, including awarding a contract to the second-lowest bidder at around Tk 70 lakh more than the lowest bid.

The ACC said it would review the documents and decide whether further investigation or legal action was necessary.

DPHE Executive Engineer Parag Barua said the office was providing the requested documents and maintained that the tender process leaves little scope for irregularities.

-AJM