Md. Shahadat Hossain (Public Relations Officer) on behalf of Chief Engineer Rakibul Islam Talukder (Dredging Branch) protested against the report published in the daily "Protidiner Bangladesh" newspaper on March 13 titled 'BIWTA's river dredging project is stealing oceans'.

The protest against the published report is highlighted below:

The BIWTA is conducting dredging operations to keep the waterways operational across the country. The country's waterways had narrowed to about 3200 km during the dry season. In the last 10/15 years, it has been dredged to about 7500 km. As a result of dredging the waterways, the waterway communication system has improved tremendously. These projects have not been undertaken for political considerations or for looting or any other malicious purpose. These projects have been undertaken only to improve the waterway management of the country.

During the previous Awami League government, not 8 but 3 projects were implemented in the dredging sector. Tk 2360 crore was spent on these 3 projects. In addition, 3 projects are ongoing which will be completed in the next 3/4 years. As a result, the statement that the report mentioned spending Tk 25,000 crore is false and fabricated. It is not clear from where the reporter got this information.

In fact, 2,300 crore taka has been spent on dredging in the last 10/15 years to increase the length of waterways from 3,200 km to 7,500 km. The projects have been implemented by all the officers and employees of the Dredging and Hydrography Department of BIWTA.

The waterways were excavated based on the measurements of the advisory firm engaged in dredging work after the survey of the Hydrographic Department of BIWTA. In addition, the current Chief Engineer Rakibul Islam Talukder joined the Dredging Department in October 2023. During this time, he did not call for any tenders or contracts as the Head of the Dredging Department. As a result, there was no opportunity for him to commit any corruption at that time from this position. As a government official, it is natural that everyone has to work with the government when the government is in power.

The report mentions him as the son-in-law of HT Imam. In reality, Rakibul Islam had no acquaintance with HT Imam. The assets mentioned in the report have no basis. He only has a plot of 5.00 (five) kathas allotted by the government in Purbachal. Besides, he has been living in his own flat, which he received from his family for about 25 years. The issues of other assets are baseless. He does not have any property in his name or name.

A government official must have a government G.O. to travel abroad. He could never go abroad without a government order and he had no ability to launder money abroad.

The report mentions his wife as a contractor. In reality, she was a teacher. Currently, she is a housewife. She does not have a license to be a contractor and since she does not do any work, she has no opportunity to launder illegal money.

The government kept him as the project director for 2 (two) years in 24 waterway dredging projects. Later he was transferred elsewhere. The project in question was implemented in 8 years. There was a project director before him in that project and later he served as another project director. The current project director of the Old Brahmaputra, Dharla, Tulai and Punarbhaba river dredging projects is Saidur Rahman (Executive Engineer).

No dredgers were purchased during the tenure of Rakibul Islam Talukder as the Chief Engineer. He was not responsible for the purchase or management of dredgers in the Dredging Department in the past.

All the work of the dredging department is surveyed by the Hydrography Department. On the instructions of the government, after these survey charts, the advisory organization determines the amount of soil. Which is monitored by the project directors or their subordinate officers. The chief engineer is not involved in any way. Therefore, the people are being misled with false information. At the same time, Rakibul Islam Talukder has been humiliated.

In the controversial report, H.T Imam and Sohael Ahmed have been identified as relatives of Rakibul Islam Talukder. Which is completely false. There may be contact with members of parliament or ministers in government work. However, what is said about giving them any additional benefits or work is completely false.

On the other hand, Mohidul Islam and Azahar Ali Sarkar were chief engineers in 2017 and 2021 respectively. And Rabiqul Islam Talukder became chief engineer in 2023. So it is not clear how Rakibul Isla was made chief engineer by surpassing his senior.

As stated above, the report published against Rakibul Islam Talukder is completely false and intentionally motivated. The report has been published to defame him.