In a surprising turn of events, the local government engineer of Gaibandha in Singra, Mr. Chhabiul Islam, has been instructed by the court to deposit a staggering amount of 36 lakh 94 thousand 300 taka from his private car into the national treasury. The directive was given by Senior Judicial Magistrate Sarwar Jahan at the Singra Adalat on Sunday afternoon.
The incident unfolded when the investigating officer of the regular diary Singra Thana, Sub-Inspector Raju Ahmed, seized the aforementioned amount from Mr. Chhabiul Islam’s car during a routine check-post operation on the Nator-Bogura highway in the Cholonbil area. The money was later deposited into the national treasury as per the court’s orders after an application was filed in court requesting its return.
A Startling Revelation: Engineer’s Misadventure
On Monday, SI Raju Ahmed confirmed that the seized money would be deposited in the national treasury following the court’s order. Concerns regarding the source of the money prompted an application to the Rajshahi office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate and take necessary action. The ACC will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the legitimacy of the funds.
Furthermore, the investigating officer for the case, SI Raju Ahmed, disclosed that Mr. Chhabiul Islam had approached the Nator Adalat on Sunday morning seeking the return of the confiscated funds. Despite claiming that the money was proceeds from land sales, Mr. Chhabiul was unable to provide any supporting documentation to validate his claim.
A Closer Look: Engineer’s Journey
Hailing from Laxmipur in Rajshahi Metropolitan, Mr. Chhabiul Islam is currently employed as the executive engineer of the LGED in Gaibandha. He initially began his career in Gaibandha as a sub-assistant engineer before progressing to his current position. With over 16 years of dedicated service in various jurisdictions, Mr. Chhabiul has been a steadfast presence in the region, diligently fulfilling his responsibilities.
In a curious incident on December 21, 2005, Mr. Chhabiul took on the role of Upazila Engineer in Saghat Upazila of Gaibandha, marking the start of a long and eventful career. His tenure continued until February 12, 2020, when he transitioned to the LGED office in Gaibandha as a senior assistant engineer. Following a brief stint in Barisal in 2024, Mr. Chhabiul eventually returned to Gaibandha as the executive engineer.
As the investigation unfolds and Mr. Chhabiul’s past experiences come to light, questions surrounding his actions and the origins of the seized funds persist. With the matter now in the hands of the court and the ACC, a definitive resolution remains pending.
The clock is ticking as the legal and financial implications of this case unfold, shedding light on the complexities of the situation. Stay tuned for further updates as the story continues to develop.
The article was published by Bangladesh Samay at 0055 hours on March 17, 2025.
