Denied bribes, RHD engineers holding back dues

A road construction firm yesterday alleged that the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Patuakhali had been declining to pay the company its dues of Tk 3.5 crore as the company did not give bribes to RHD's two engineers.

At a press conference in the capital's Jatiya Press Club, Omar Faruque, managing director of The Rupsha Engineers Ltd, said then chief engineer Aminur Rahman Laskar and co-engineer Arifur Rahman had demanded Tk 50 lakh in bribes for signing the bill.

"But our former managing director Mohammad Ali declined to give the bribe," he claimed.

Omar said the engineers blocked the payment after forming a technical committee to inspect the road, which was repaired by Rupsha Engineers.

The engineers also allegedly changed the original design of the road and mentioned some "unspecified" mistakes in the work, he added.

But Arifur Rahman, now additional chief engineer in Chittagong zone, denied his involvement in any work with the firm and cited two probe reports of the government that raised allegations of "very low quality" work and "corruption" against the company.

The other engineer, Aminur Rahman Laskar, was not available for comment.

Patuakhali's RHD issued the work order to Rupsha Engineers and Khan Engineers for renovation of 21.5km  of the road from Kalapara to Kuakata for Tk 53.96 crore,  including Tk 40 crore for renovation of the road and Tk 13.96 crore for acquisition of land in 2010.

Rupsha Engineers of Khulna got the work order for renovation of 11km for Tk 20 crore. Patuakhali's RHD has already paid it Tk 15.75 crore.