‘I will not take less than Tk2cr’: BPDB engineer’s alleged bribery conversation surfaces in viral video

A video purportedly showing Nurul Amin, executive engineer at the Bangladesh Power Development Board’s (BPDB) Lakshmipur office, allegedly discussing a Tk2 crore payment has gone viral on social media.

The video surfaced last night (27 September). In it, Nurul is heard discussing project materials, contractor bills, “cross arms”, and financial transactions.

“I will not move from Tk2 crore. I will not take less than Tk2 crore,” he is heard saying. He also refers to a Tk6 crore bill and says he is willing to go to the chairman if necessary.

In another part, he is heard asking whether he should keep or return some money. The conversation also includes remarks suggesting that the money could not be returned later if kept.

The name of BPDB sub-engineer Sobuj Mia also comes up. The conversation refers to his involvement in BPDB line work and discusses the supply of project materials and “cross arms”.

The video also contains discussions about withholding contractors’ bills, accounting for materials, and releasing payments. At one point, a claim is made about withholding a large amount of bills.

However, the video’s time and location, the identity of the person who recorded it and the identities of others in the conversation could not be independently verified.

It was also not possible to confirm whether the video had been edited, establish the full context of the conversation or verify whether the amounts mentioned were linked to actual transactions.

Several local journalists tried to contact Nurul and Sobuj for comment by phone, but neither answered the calls.

Lakshmipur Press Club President Mostakur Rahman, in a post on his personal social media account, said he had raised specific allegations against the executive engineer at three district law and order committee meetings over the past nine months.

He questioned how much others would take and how much work would actually be done if Tk2 crore was taken from a Tk6 crore bill.

He also alleged that the video, recorded by a hidden camera, exposed the engineer’s involvement in bribery.