Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has temporarily suspended Lakshmipur Sales and Distribution Division Executive Engineer Md Nurul Amin, with immediate effect after an 8-minute-50-second video showing him demanding a Tk2 crore bribe went viral on social media.
According to an official order issued by BPDB Directorate of Investigation and Discipline on Monday, proceedings have been initiated against Nurul Amin under the BPDB (Officers) Service Rules, 1982, following media coverage of the financial transaction footage.
Under the same rules, he has been placed under temporary suspension, during which he will receive a subsistence allowance and is strictly prohibited from leaving his work station without prior permission from his controlling officer.
Damning video footage
The disciplinary action follows the widespread circulation of the video on Facebook since Sunday night, in which Nurul Amin is heard insisting on a Tk2 crore payment to sign a bill, stating: “AC Sir has agreed, for some reason, I won’t budge from two crore taka.”
He further claims that he would not lower his demand even if taken to the Chairman, asking: “If I take Tk2 crore for a bill, will the Chairman go against me?”
In the footage, he also exposes alleged procurement corruption within the electricity department, claiming that materials for a Tk3 lakh project are inflated to Tk30 lakh, leading to an embezzlement of Tk5 crore, from which he demands a Tk 2 crore cut to sign off on the work.
The video shows him accepting Tk1,35,000 in cash from unidentified individuals whose faces are hidden, following an earlier cash payment of Tk 1 lakh.
Allegations surrounding the bribery scandal also involve an assistant engineer and two sub-assistant engineers from the Lakshmipur BPDB office, one of whom was transferred to Feni several months ago while two remain posted in Lakshmipur.
Local PDB officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the video was filmed inside a government residence in the presence of these subordinates and was linked to illegal power connections provided to a multi-storey building on Rehan Uddin Bhuiyan Road, over which the electricity department had previously filed a Tk 2 crore lawsuit.
Protests and public outcry
Prior to the suspension, the scandal triggered local protests, with members of the Lakshmipur Private Hospital Clinic and Diagnostic Association joining local traders in forming a human chain outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office to demand punishment for the officers involved – a grievance also raised at a district law and order committee meeting.
Local merchants alleged that bribes are routinely demanded for new power connections and meter installations.
Abul Kalam Azad, general secretary of the District Merchants’ Association, told TIMES that businessmen had previously submitted written complaints to the BPDB Chairman regarding Nurul Amin’s corruption, but inaction had allowed him to grow increasingly reckless.
Officer claims ‘conspiracy’
Additional Deputy Commissioner Samrat Khisa stated that BPDB authorities are expected to investigate and take action following the viral video, noting that the district administration has no jurisdiction over the matter.
Nurul Amin remained inside his official residence throughout the day, avoiding news reporters and phone calls, before exiting at 5:00 pm and briefly claiming to TIMES that he was the “victim of a conspiracy” prior to declining further comment.
