The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested Habibur Rahman, former chief engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), over allegations of corruption in the runway expansion project at Cox’s Bazar International Airport.
ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain confirmed the development. He said Habibur Rahman was arrested from Dhaka’s Segunbagicha area on Wednesday.
The ACC has produced him before a court and sought his detention in custody.
In its petition, the commission said Habibur Rahman was arrested during the investigation of a case filed over irregularities and corruption in the Cox’s Bazar airport runway expansion project, amid concerns that he could influence witnesses if left at liberty.
The ACC therefore requested that he be kept in jail until the investigation is completed.
The former CAAB chief engineer, accusing him of embezzling Tk150 crore from the Cox’s Bazar airport project in 2025.
According to the case statement, Aerones International Limited acted illegally as a co-contractor in the mega runway expansion project by taking and giving unlawful benefits as a local agent, securing the work order and remaining involved in its implementation.
The statement alleges that, in violation of existing laws and contractual provisions, Aerones International was engaged in the overall project through collusion among the parties concerned.
The ACC further alleged that the work order was awarded in violation of the Public Procurement Rules (PPR) through abuse of power and with the assistance of Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former military adviser to the prime minister.
The commission said Habibur Rahman served as the project director and abused his administrative authority by inflating costs, bypassing approval procedures, and violating regulations related to fund disbursement.
According to the ACC, these irregularities were used to award the project to a preferred contractor by involving local agent Aerones International Limited, leading to the embezzlement of Tk150 crore.
