Former Managing Director of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) Engineer Bikash Dewan has come under ACC scrutiny allegedly for laundering Tk 1,500 crore.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into the allegations of various irregularities, corruption, and misappropriation of funds brought against him by one Anis Murad last November.
According to sources at DPDC, Dewan reportedly managed to influence the ACC, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and journalists through bribes, which facilitated his retirement earlier this year. During his tenure, he reportedly got involved in corrupt practices through a person named Yusuf of Power Development Board (PDB).
The two-page complaint filed with the ACC has accused Dewan of financial irregularities, including project cost manipulation, bribery, contractor recruitment and distribution of work, intimidation, and illicit benefits from foreign institutions.
The complainant also alleged that Dewan engaged in extortion, intimidation of project managers, and procurement of substandard meters while he laundered millions of taka.
Further allegations brought against him include the inflation of the cost of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) project from Tk 600 crore to Tk 1,000 crore, and preventing other parties from participating in the G2G and PDSD projects. The complaint highlights instances of bribery involving embezzlement of underground cables worth Tk 50 crore and the promotions and transfers of individuals involved in these crimes.
Additionally, the complainant has referred to a 2017 case regarding irregularities in foreign travel expenses during his tenure as the Chief Engineer of Planning and Design at the Bangladesh Power Development Board.
When this correspondent tried to contact Dewan, he was unavailable for his comments about these allegations.
While visiting his residence in Rangamati and his house in the Bashundhara residential area, no one was found there. Neighbours claimed that he went into hiding shortly after a private television channel aired news on him.
The caretaker of Dewan’s Bashundhara residence, Hanif Mia, confirmed that Dewan lives with his wife and younger brother’s family on the third and fourth floors, while the rest of the building’s flats are on rent. The building, an eight-storey structure on a five-katha plot, is owned by Dewan himself, though an NBR official owns the fifth-floor flat.
The current Managing Director of DPDC, Engineer Abdullah Noman, said that they have been informed of the issue through the ACC.
He said that as DPDC does not have detailed information on the matter, they are prepared to provide necessary documents as required by the ACC.
