Sk Md Kudrot-E-Khuda, Chief Arboriculturist at Arboriculture Division under Public Works Department (PWD), is facing allegations of massive corruption and irregularities.
Kudrot-E-Khuda, who has been holding the post of chief arboriculturist for about 12 years, allegedly embezzled public funds, fabricated records, and manipulated recruitment procedures, according to sources.
They said Kudrot-E-Khuda is one of the main Public Works Department officials implicated in corruption. He was present at all meetings and seminars organised by the previous government, from secretary level to ministry level.
Investigation revealed that he was well-known for fabricating lists for outsourcing and bills for government allocations.
Sources concerned alleged that Kudrot-E-Khuda established supremacy over Arboriculture Division and got involved in massive corruption, abuse of power, and irregularities. He was also accused of pocketing money while working as a monitoring officer and tampering with recruitment tests.
Documents show that Kudrot-E-Khuda joined the Chattogram office of Public Works Department as a Sub-Divisional Officer (Arboriculture) in January 2004.
Thumbing his nose at all conditions set by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, he had been drawing salary at the 5th grade level for ten years. For over a decade, he has been holding the post of chief arboriculturist at Public Works Department in Dhaka after bribing high officials. This post was supposed to be held by senior sub-divisional officer, Md Moazzem Hossain.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, sources confirmed that Kudrot-E-Khuda has been absent from his office. Despite his absence, he is reportedly working from home with assistance from some staff members. He was also signing files sent to his home using government vehicles.
There are allegations that a syndicate, led by Additional Chief Engineer Shamim Ahmed and Supervisor Engineer Nandita Rani Saha, has supported corrupt officials like Kudrot-E-Khuda through financial transactions over the years.
When approached for comments, Shamim Ahmed brushed aside the allegations, saying that no evidence has been found against Kudrot-E-Khuda. He noted that both Kudrot-E-Khuda and Moazzem Hossain's files were sent to the ministry in 2012, leading to Kudrot-E-Khuda's appointment. “If necessary, further investigations would be conducted into the allegations against him.”
Regarding Kudrot-E-Khuda's absence from work, Shamim Ahmed mentioned that his area of responsibility is vast, suggesting that he may be working elsewhere.
In response, Nandita Rani Saha accused Moazzem Hossain of attempting to grab the post of chief arboriculturist, which might explain Kudrot-E-Khuda's absence. However, she declined to make any comment on the allegations without permission from the chief engineer.
Md Moazzem Hossain defended himself, explaining that he joined the job in 2004 as senior-most candidate as per the Bangladesh Public Service Commission's recruitment list. He claimed that due to his birthplace in Bogura, he has faced harassment and has been denied promotion for 16 years while being kept in reserve in Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions. He has recently applied for promotion to the chief arboriculturist position.
Sources indicate that for every outsourcing appointment in Arboriculture Division, Kudrot-E-Khuda and Nandita Rani Saha allegedly took bribes of at least Tk 3,00,000. They were accused of making fake lists for outsourcing and master roll, reportedly embezzling around Tk 22 crore from Finance Division over the years.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) asked him to submit necessary documents on January 28, 2016, but he did not submit any documents. It included allegations of withdrawal of Tk 5,00,000 through fake clothing allowance bills, embezzlement of Tk 3,99,399 in the cleaning sector and withdrawal of Tk 13,77,072 bills in various sectors.
Additionally, sources confirm that another investigation report from 2020 was covered up through bribes from the chief.
In 2016, the ACC indicated that Kudrot-E-Khuda had embezzled Tk 17,77,372 through fake bills in various sectors for the fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15, and another report from 2020 accused him of illegally promoting overseers and misusing four job titles to embezzle half a million taka.
The complaint stated that he had pocketed millions of taka by showing fake bills for maintaining government parks and gardens, supplying flower vases, stage decoration for inaugurations, floral arrangements for memorials, and even misappropriating relief gifts from former prime ministers without performing any actual work.
Moreover, allegations include embezzling funds meant for employee uniform, pocketing money for garden maintenance, and colluding with contractors for various gardening and boundary wall projects.
During this time, several employees of Public Works Department came forward to bring allegations against his corruption.
It was alleged that during the ACC's investigation, the investigating officer tampered with witness statements and submitted an ordinary report after accepting large bribes from the chief arboriculturist.
It is revealed that, following this incident, the chief arboriculturist managed to have one whistleblower dismissed and others transferred as punishment. For nearly eight years, he has suppressed the corruption investigation, reportedly spending vast sums of money to do so, diverting maintenance funds from the annual budget for this purpose. While those who protested faced consequences, Kudrot-E-Khuda continues to operate with impunity.
In 2020, following another complaint, a three-member investigation committee was formed by the Public Works Department to look into the allegations against Kudrot-E-Khuda regarding embezzlement, irregularities, and abuse of power. The committee was asked to submit a clear report after a thorough investigation within 15 working days.
When contacted, the committee’s member secretary, Hasnat Sabrina, stated that the investigation report had been submitted within the specified timeframe, and an additional investigation committee was formed against Kudrot-E-Khuda after their findings. She noted that the administration, establishment, and investigation units would take necessary actions based on the submitted report.
Regarding the investigation report and subsequent actions, Executive Engineer Toufiq Alam Siddique mentioned that he could not provide details without reviewing the official files, indicating that the matter has become a significant issue.
Md Shamim Akhtar, Chief Engineer of Public Works Department, declined to make comment on these allegations when approached.
Sk Md Kudrot-E-Khuda also refrained from commenting on the matter, rather advising this correspondent through an official named Arif not to publish this report in exchange for money.
