Anti-Corruption Commission Issues Revised Clearance After Erroneously Clearing Two Civil Aviation Engineers Facing Graft Charges

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is reviewing its internal procedures after issuing clearance certificates to two Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) engineers who are currently subjects of active corruption investigations.

The two engineers, Aminul Hasib and Moidur Rahman Mawdud, were subjects of an ACC inquiry when they applied for departmental promotions earlier this year. Despite pending corruption cases against them, the Commission issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) in March stating there were no investigations against the pair.

ACC Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan acknowledged the error on Tuesday, confirming that the agency is now issuing corrected correspondence that accurately reflects the ongoing legal proceedings. He stated that the previous clearance certificates were issued in error and that an internal investigation is underway to determine how the oversight occurred.

Records indicate that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism requested status updates on both engineers on March 11. Following the issuance of the erroneous NOCs, Aminul Hasib was promoted to the position of Superintending Engineer. Attempts to reach Hasib for comment via telephone and text message were unsuccessful, and Moidur Rahman Mawdud could not be reached for comment.

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The engineers are among the accused in four separate corruption cases filed by the ACC following the July political uprising, which uncovered allegations of widespread financial misconduct in national airport development projects. The cases involve the alleged embezzlement of approximately 900 million BDT. Among the other accused individuals is Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the former military advisor to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In one case filed by ACC Assistant Director AKM Mortuza Ali Sagar, the accused are alleged to have embezzled 212 million BDT from the expansion project of Osmani International Airport in Sylhet without completing the required construction work. A separate case filed by Assistant Director SM Rashidul Hasan alleges the misappropriation of 150 million BDT from development projects at Cox’s Bazar Airport.

Internal sources suggest the engineers may have manipulated officials within the investigative division to secure the clearance certificates. Mokammel Haque, the ACC Director General for Money Laundering, confirmed that the commission is rectifying the records and investigating the circumstances surrounding the initial oversight.