A high-ranking civil servant at the centre of a massive procurement scandal remains firmly entrenched in his post two weeks after being transferred, as a bitter administrative deadlock unfolds within the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
Project Director (PD) Kazi Shafiqul Alam was formally removed from the Tk1,851.30 crore disaster emergency procurement project on 15 September following instructions from Minister Asadul Habib Dulu.
The order came after detailed allegations surfaced that Alam had engaged in widespread irregularities, taking financial kickbacks to award lucrative state contracts to a favoured supplier.
In his place, the Ministry of Public Administration appointed Joint Secretary Samsun Nahar Sumi from the Ministry of Social Welfare. However, in a startling display of institutional insubordination, the Disaster Management Ministry has actively blocked Sumi from assuming her post, raising serious questions regarding the authority of the ministry’s secretary and his office.
Sources reveal that Alam, a joint secretary himself, has refused to hand over charge and is lobbying aggressively at the highest levels to overturn his transfer, leaving the nation’s critical earthquake rescue procurement framework in administrative limbo.
Ministry sources confirmed that Samsun Nahar Sumi obtained a formal release from her previous workplace at the Ministry of Social Welfare and submitted her joining letter to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on 24 September.
However, on Monday, 28 September, a letter signed by Jahangir Alam, deputy secretary (administration branch) of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, was sent to the secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration.
The letter said that due to “administrative reasons”, it was not possible to accept Samsun Nahar Sumi’s joining letter submitted on 24 September. As a result, her joining has been blocked.
When contacted, Saiful Islam, secretary at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, told TIMES, “The decision not to accept the new PD’s joining is an internal matter of the ministry. The person who wished to join was not taken. A better option has been kept. This has been discussed at a higher level.”
For his part, Kazi Shafiqul Alam rejected the claims, saying, “All allegations against me are false. I have carried out all work in accordance with the rules. Contractors who fail to secure a contract typically make these kinds of allegations.”
Regarding efforts to block his transfer or failing to take a release, he said, “On 22 September, I submitted a letter to the secretary requesting my release. I will likely be able to take my release soon.”
The newly appointed PD, Samsun Nahar Sumi, said, “On the 15th, the Ministry of Public Administration appointed me as the PD of the project. I formally joined the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on 24 September after obtaining a release from the Ministry of Social Welfare.”
“I have since learned that a letter was sent to the Public Administration Ministry saying that my joining letter was not accepted.”
Multiple sources within the Department of Disaster Management and project officials said that victims recently met the minister with specific allegations against PD Shafiqul, accusing him of illegally granting a monopoly on procurement contracts to a firm named ‘Bangladesh Science House’.
Their allegation against influential Shafiqul, who was appointed during the Awami League regime, was that he routinely disqualified the lowest bidders in most tenders to award contracts to that single entity. At one point, the minister ordered Shafiqul’s transfer.
Attempts were made to contact Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu by phone for comments on the matter, but he did not respond. He also ignored texts seeking his comments.
Senior Information Officer of the ministry, Mahbubur Rahman, later told TIMES that the minister would not be speaking on the issue.
Meanwhile, an additional secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration told TIMES seeking anonymity, “Normally, when the Ministry of Public Administration issues an order, it is unusual for another ministry to disobey it. In this case, although the order stands, senior officials within the ministry have not taken kindly to Sumi’s joining being rejected on ‘administrative’ grounds.”
Shafiqul accepted higher bids, rejected lowest bidders
The project, running from November 2020 to June 2027, was allocated a budget of Tk1,851.30 crore. Its objective was to procure equipment for search and rescue operations as well as emergency communication during earthquakes and natural disasters.
According to ministry and project documents, Shafiqul joined the project as Deputy Project Director (DPD) in late 2022. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as the PD.
Since his appointment, allegations surfaced against him regarding irregularities to unfairly secure work for Bangladesh Science House. Awarding contracts to the firm at higher prices by discarding the lowest valid bidders has resulted in substantial additional expenditure for the exchequer.
An analysis of four tender documents obtained by TIMES shows that Bangladesh Science House was not the lowest bidder in a single instance.
The firm secured work orders despite ranking second in some, third in others, and sixth in one instance. Across these four tenders, the total excess expenditure amounted to approximately Tk3,54,01,535.
In a tender published on 3 December 2025, Anurag Traders was the lowest bidder at Tk13,96,65,200, whereas Science House quoted Tk14,33,02,002. This resulted in an excess expenditure of Tk36,34,802.
In another tender, Anurag Traders quoted Tk7,85,10,000, while Science House quoted Tk8,18,99,181, an excess expenditure of Tk33,89,181.
In a third tender, Elite Solutions was the lowest bidder at Tk7,17,47,630.08, yet Science House was awarded the contract at Tk7,51,80,000, causing an additional cost of Tk34,32,370.
Furthermore, in a 2024 tender, Belal & Brothers submitted the lowest bid at Tk12,69,44,892, but Science House secured the work at Tk15,18,90,074, costing the state an extra Tk2,49,45,182.
Addressing questions on why Science House repeatedly won contracts despite failing to be the lowest bidder, Kazi Shafiqul said, “Being the lowest bidder does not automatically qualify a firm for the contract. There are complex systems involved here. Additionally, technical teams provide their evaluations, and decisions are made accordingly.”
Shafiqul faces longstanding graft allegations
In April 2025, a firm named M/S Sarkar Kabir Ahmad lodged a formal complaint against Shafiqul with the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA), the ministry secretary, and the then adviser, alleging irregularities in awarding four tender packages to Science House. Another firm, HTMS, submitted similar grievances.
Following those complaints, a review panel was formed which found clear evidence of irregularities in at least four out of nine tender packages awarded to Science House under the project.
The complainant from that incident, Sarkar Kabir Ahmad, said, “The review panel identified various anomalies in the tendering process and recommended cancelling the contracts with Science House and issuing fresh tenders.”
“However, Science House subsequently filed a writ petition with the High Court and obtained a stay order upholding the original decision. Later, at the PD’s personal request, I refrained from challenging the matter further in court.”
