The Local Government Division has imposed a ban on foreign travel for four city corporation engineers, including former superintending engineer (Mechanical) of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Anisur Rahman, who is under investigation for various corruption allegations.
The other three officials are Kazi Mohammad Borhan Uddin, Additional Chief Engineer of Barishal City Corporation; Mohammad Shaheen‑ul Islam Chowdhury, Superintending Engineer (Civil) of Chattogram City Corporation; and Farzana Mukta, Executive Engineer of Chattogram City Corporation.
The directive was issued on 26 July in a letter signed by Joint Secretary Md Rabiul Islam from the city corporation‑1 branch of the Local Government Division. The letter was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Special Branch (SB) of Police, the Immigration Department, and the Department of Immigration and Passports.
The matter became public on Tuesday, sparking discussion in administrative circles.
The letter stated that, based on confidential information, the officials under investigation might attempt to leave the country at any time.
Therefore, until the investigation is complete, all immigration checkpoints have been instructed to prevent their departure. The letter also included the names, designations, permanent addresses, and passport copies of the four officials.
The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co‑operatives is investigating allegations against Anisur Rahman of corruption, abuse of power, embezzlement, tender manipulation, illegal wealth accumulation, and money laundering.
While the investigation was ongoing, he was transferred on 30 June to the newly formed Bogura City Corporation.
Among the allegations against him is irregularity in the tender process of the Tk400 crore modernisation project of Shahbagh’s Shaheed Zia Shishu Park. As project director, he reportedly added conditions that favoured certain companies.
Internal DSCC sources claim the tender requirements were set in such a way that only Orion, NDE, and UCC could effectively compete.
On 6 July, an investigative report published in TIMES of Bangladesh alleged that Anisur Rahman had begun selling assets registered under his name and others and was preparing to leave the country.
Within days of that report, on 12 July, the tender process for the Shaheed Zia Shishu Park modernisation project was suspended.
