Widespread corruption has surfaced at the Dhaka District Council, involving the alleged misappropriation of several hundred crore taka in public funds and assets, along with irregular approvals and fraudulent projects over more than a decade.
Documents obtained by TIMES of Bangladesh, along with interviews with officials, suggest that funds were siphoned off through fabricated bills, inflated repair works and non-existent development schemes between 2012 and 2024.
Authorities have now launched a departmental investigation.
Officials say a multi-storey building was constructed at a cost of Tk160 crore without required approvals. There are also allegations of irregularities in allocations for religious institutions, road construction projects and even stipends meant for the poor.
“Review of all project files has begun, and complaints will be filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission,” said Dhaka District Council Administrator Md Yasin Ferdous Morad, admitting the irregularities.
He alleged that two former administrators, along with several officials, operated as a syndicate during the period in question.
School project raises red flags
One project, approved in June 2022, involved the construction of a school in Kaibartapara area of Keraniganj’s Shuvadda union.
The council allocated Tk1.1 crore for the project between FY23 and FY24.
However, the project came under scrutiny when a contractor sought payment, prompting an investigation that found no legally recognised school at the site.
Keraniganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rinat Fauzia, who led the inquiry, confirmed in a report that no government-approved school exists in the area.
The contractor, Mohammad Awal of Messrs Awal Traders, said the work had been carried out under his licence by a third party, but declined to comment on allegations that funds were withdrawn without construction.
Sources say the project was backed by the area’s then Member of Parliament Nasrul Hamid Bipu, who could not be reached for comment.
Tk30 lakh spent on repairs for newly bought vehicle
A vehicle purchased by the council at a cost of more than Tk90 lakh incurred nearly Tk30 lakh in repair and servicing expenses over several years.
According to official records, the council’s then chief executive officer approved the purchase of a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport QX jeep from state-owned Pragoti Industries Limited for Tk90.69 lakh on 20 September 2017.
However, within just two months of the purchase, the black vehicle began undergoing frequent repairs and servicing.
Between 20 November 2017 and 15 January 2026, the vehicle was reportedly taken to workshops 76 times, with total expenses reaching Tk29.40 lakh excluding fuel and lubricant costs.
A significant portion of the expenditure, Tk13.50 lakh was paid to Rangs Workshop Limited on 22 October 2024.
The scale and frequency of the repairs prompted scrutiny, leading the council to formally seek detailed information from the workshop on 2 April this year.
Rangs Workshop Limited General Manager and Head of Service Sayeed Chowdhury confirmed that his company provided the information sought by the council.
The records also show that Mahbubur Rahman, former chairman and administrator of the council, used the government vehicle with a personal driver during his tenure in three phases between 24 January 2017 and 18 August 2024.
Meanwhile, the official driver, Jamir Uddin, continued to receive salary and allowances despite not operating the vehicle.
He said he had not been allowed to drive it.
Mahbubur Rahman is currently in prison, where he has been held for nearly a year.
Loss of assets
One of the latest cases involves a 20-decimal plot of council-owned land in Katabon, where the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) began constructing a multi-storey building on 8 May 2023.
The council says it formally wrote to DNCC on 29 January 2025, followed by further letters on 12 February and 23 February, asking for the structures to be removed.
However, officials say no response has been received.
Council surveyor Lokman Hossain estimates the current market value of the land at more than Tk100 crore.
The dispute over Katabon land is not an isolated case.
In 2015, DNCC took control of a five-storey convention centre owned by the district council on Road No 2 of the Chand Mia Housing Society in Mohammadpur.
The property, also valued at around Tk100 crore, remains under DNCC’s possession, according to officials.
In another incident, in February 2016, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) demolished 72 shops in a council-owned market in the Nandipara area of Khilgaon.
The council’s chief executive officer later sought compensation through a formal letter, but officials say no response was received.
The council has also raised concerns over revenue from the Gabtoli cattle market.
In a letter sent on 2 April, the council’s CEO asked the DNCC administrator to hand over 4.16 acres of land currently under its control and to pay 50 per cent of lease money from the market, covering the period from the FY03 to FY26.
A report dated 7 April also noted that 14 leaseholders in the Gabtoli mouza area of Mirpur continue to occupy large amounts of land even after their lease terms have expired.
DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan said, “DNCC has been maintaining the properties in Gabtoli, Mohammadpur and Katabon for a long time.”
“We have discussed the matter with the district administration, and both authorities will sit together to resolve it.”
Council Administrator Yasin Ferdous Morad said efforts are under way to recover the properties.
Mosque fund misuse, inflated renovation costs
More than Tk3.25 crore was allocated to 10 projects over four fiscal years from the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for Bainya, the home village of former Dhamrai MP Benazir Ahmed, according to official records.
Local mosque officials allege that a significant portion of the funds was misappropriated.
“To carry out work worth around Tk1 crore to Tk1.5 crore, the full allocation of Tk3 crore was withdrawn,” said Tofazzal Hossain, general secretary of the mosque committee.
Separately, questions have been raised over renovation spending linked to the council’s temporary office.
During the construction of a building on Johnson Road, the council’s temporary office was relocated to Sector 6 in Uttara.
A letter dated 6 April, signed by the council’s acting CEO and addressed to the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner, shows that two work orders were awarded to Onestra Limited, a firm based in Kalabagan, for renovation and interior design of the chairman’s unused residence, which had been converted into a temporary office.
Although bills totalling Tk1.07 crore were withdrawn, officials say little or no work was carried out on site.
Tk98cr paid for project stalls for years
A major construction project in Old Dhaka has remained incomplete for more than a decade despite nearly Tk98 crore being paid to the contractor, raising further concerns over governance and oversight at the Dhaka District Council.
The project, located on 73.21 decimals of land at 46-47 Johnson Road, was intended to replace an old and abandoned office building with a modern 20-storey office-cum-commercial complex.
Although Messrs Toma Construction and Company Limited was awarded the contract at a cost of Tk160.26 crore, records show that Tk97.88 crore has already been paid in eight instalments without the project being completed.
The contractor later claimed an additional Tk9.51 crore which was not approved.
The work order was issued on 15 November 2012, but officials say no required clearances were obtained from key authorities.
Efforts to resolve the long-standing complications have intensified only recently.
Toma Construction Chairman and Managing Director Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik could not be reached for comment, as he is reportedly in hiding. The company’s office in Kakrail was found closed.
Forgery claim
A legal dispute involving alleged forgery has stalled the leasing of 92.36 decimals of land in the Gabtoli area, adding to a growing list of irregularities under investigation at the Dhaka District Council.
The lease process was suspended after a writ petition was filed in the High Court using the name of actor Monowar Hossain Dipjol.
In a letter to the district administration on 5 April, Dipjol denied filing any such petition, saying his name may have been used fraudulently.
The district council has since opened an investigation into the matter.
Allegations over welfare fund distribution
Separately, concerns have been raised over the distribution of stipends intended for vulnerable groups.
On 2 September 2014, reserved seat Member of Parliament Sabina Akter Tuhin submitted a request seeking assistance for 50 disadvantaged individuals.
Two days later, the administrator approved Tk10,000 per person, totalling Tk5 lakh.
However, officials allege that several staff members took a share of the funds before distribution.
Officials under scrutiny
Multiple officials say the irregularities and corruption were carried out during the tenure of officials serving as chairman and administrator under the previous Awami League government, often in collusion with others in the office.
According to internal records, Mahbubur Rahman served as administrator between 24 January 2017 and 18 August 2024.
Officials noted that although Hasina Daula had previously served as chairman, her name does not appear on the official honour board.
Md Yasin Ferdous Morad has been serving as administrator since 31 March this year.
Following the political changes on 5 August 2024, several individuals served in the role in succession, including Mohammad Monibur Rahman, KM Ali Azam, Raja Muhammad Abdul Hai, Azmal Hossain and Azmul Haque.
Officials familiar with Anti-Corruption Commission proceedings said investigations have been conducted against several former and current officials, including former chairman Hasina Daula and multiple administrative and engineering staff.
Some have been suspended, while two have since died.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “Abuse of power and deception appear to have been used in these cases.”
Those responsible must be brought under accountability through proper investigations, he added.
ACC Deputy Director Md Aktarul Islam said several allegations involving the district council had previously been investigated and cases filed.
“If new, specific allegations and evidence emerge, those will of course be examined,” he said.
