The Anti-Corruption Commission on Sunday decided to conduct an inquiry against project director AKM Maksudul Islam and others involved over allegations of corruption and embezzlement of Tk 4,000 crore in the construction of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The decision for the inquiry came at a meeting held at the commission鈥檚 Segun Bagicha headquarters in the capital, said its director general for prevention Md Akhtar Hossain.
鈥榃e have decided to start an inquiry into the allegations that AKM Maksudul Islam, the project director of HSIA鈥檚 third terminal, and others embezzled Tk 4,000 crore from the project through abuse of power, widespread irregularities, corruption and fraud.鈥�
The allegations also include inflating the project cost from an estimated Tk 7,000 crore to Tk 22,000 crore through fraud and irregularities; purchasing equipment locally but claiming them as imports to misappropriate funds; embezzling Tk 900 crore through mismanagement in soil testing and design alteration; and selling three major contracts to contractors for commission.
Other allegations include installing low-quality equipment imported from China and Korea although tender documents mention European-standard equipment; widespread irregularities in ceiling works; spending of Tk 12 crore on unnecessary tasks to appease former prime minister Sheikh Hasina; and forming a 鈥榮yndicate鈥� to embezzle project money.
When asked whether Sheikh Hasina was involved in the corruption, Aktar Hossain said, 鈥楨veryone who is found involved in the inquiry will be brought to justice.鈥�
鈥楾he ACC is committed to uncovering the truth behind these allegations and ensuring accountability for any wrongdoing,鈥� he added.
On October 7, 2023, the then prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, inaugurated the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
On December 28, 2019, ADC, a consortium of Mitsubishi Corporation, Fujita Corporation and Samsung C&T Corporation, began the construction of the third terminal.
The government contributed Tk 5,000 crore to the cost with the rest of the amount coming from the Japan International Cooperation Agency as loans.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on various occasions said that passengers would be able to use the third terminal from October this year, but it has yet to start its full operation.