Chittagong University (CU) authorities had invited tender for the second phase work of the arts faculty building in September 2016. At that time, The Builders Engineers owned by GK Shamim, who identified himself as a Jubo League leader until his arrest on September 20, got the Tk750 million worth of work without any competition.
It’s alleged that using Chhatra League, GK Builders got the work by submitting false papers, though the engineering department of the university has refuted the claim.
A former student leader of CU told Bangla Tribune: “The work was given to GK Builders due to collusion between the group controlled by the then Chhatra League president and the university administration.”
When Chhatra League leader Diyaz Irfan Chowdhury protested, he was killed, alleges Diyaz’s sister Zubaida Sarwar Nipa.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found proof that GK Builders submitted false papers to get the work.
ACC Assistant director (Chittagong 1) Fakhrul Islam said: “We are investigating the aberrations of this tender process, along with the collusive behaviour from the university authority.
“We have found primary evidence of irregularities, and will reveal all once the probe is complete.”
CU Chief Engineer Abu Sayeed said: “All documents were assessed before giving the work to the organisation. In the tender, two organizations took part and of them, GK Builders was in a better position.”
“However, there is no progress in the work, and we have given several letters to the institution to expedite the work,” he said.
The work was for the construction of a new building for the arts faculty, and GK Builders was supposed to complete the work by November 2018.
In the last three years, GK Builders managed to finish only 56% of the work. Company owner GK Shamim is now in police remand in two cases filed over arms and narcotics charges.