Tender Influence

AL lawmaker 'assaults' WDB engineer

3 January 2011, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Ruling Awami League lawmaker Manirul Islam Moni leaves Barisal Water Development Board office under police escort after he allegedly assaulted an engineer.Photo: STAR

Awami League lawmaker Manirul Islam Moni allegedly assaulted an engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) here yesterday over a tender process of the office. Incensed, contractors gathering around chased the lawmaker. Then the MP from Barisal-2 (Banaripara-Uzirpur) constituency left the WDB office premises along with his son Reazul Islam Sumon under police protection. Witnesses said Moni came to the office around 11:40am to talk about a river protection embankment tender worth Tk 1.71 crore. M Builders, S R Construction, Al Mamun Enterprise, Guard Felt Limited and B J Geo-Textile participated in the tender bid. M Builders, the firm reportedly enjoying the MP's blessings, was the second lowest bidder and failed to get the work, sources in the office said. Moni asked Executive Engineer Harunur Rashid to give the work order in favour of his choice. They had an altercation and at one stage allegedly Moni assaulted the official, added witnesses. Hearing the hue and cry, the contractors present there rushed to the spot and chased the lawmaker and his associates. Police from the adjacent Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) Commissioner's office came to the rescue and arranged for his safe passage around 12:30pm under escort, said Bhanu Lal Das, deputy commissioner of BMP. Harunur Rashid admitted that the lawmaker went to his office to talk about a tender. As the MP's associates started an altercation over the tender issue, he requested them to get out of his room. The lawmaker, however, denied having assaulted the WDB official and made counter allegation that some contractors blessed by party rivals attacked and chased his men. Moni also claimed he went there by making prior appointment to discuss about the development works of his constituency. He named local AL leader Mezbahuddin Dipu and a few other AL and Jubo League cadres for chasing his men and trying to damage his car. Contacted, Dipu said everybody present there had witnessed how the lawmaker assaulted the WDB engineer and the reaction he faced.