Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested a former senior aviation official over alleged large-scale financial irregularities linked to the expansion of Cox’s Bazar International Airport, one of the country’s flagship infrastructure projects.
Md Habibur Rahman, former chief engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), was taken into custody on Wednesday from Dhaka’s Segunbagicha area, according to the ACC. Investigators allege he was involved in the embezzlement of approximately Tk150 crore during the construction of the airport’s runway and terminal facilities.
The ACC confirmed that Rahman was produced before a court shortly after his arrest. The commission has sought his detention during the ongoing investigation, citing concerns that his release could lead to interference with evidence or influence over witnesses connected to the case.
The arrest follows the filing of a corruption case earlier this week, on 27 January 2025, against 10 individuals accused of irregularities in the airport development project. Among those named is Tarique Ahmed Siddique, a former military adviser to the prime minister, along with several former senior bureaucrats and officials associated with the civil aviation sector.
According to ACC case documents, investigators have uncovered alleged financial irregularities totalling nearly Tk1,500 crore in the Cox’s Bazar Airport expansion scheme. The project, intended to transform the coastal airport into an international aviation hub, has been under scrutiny for suspected violations of public procurement rules.
The commission alleges that senior officials played a direct role in facilitating the awarding of the runway expansion contract to a Chinese firm, bypassing established procurement procedures. Investigators further claim that, in coordination with a local intermediary firm, Aerones International Limited, project funds were misappropriated for personal gain.
Other accused in the case include former senior secretary Muhibul Haq, former joint secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Janendranath Sarkar, former CAAB chairman M Mofidur Rahman, former chief engineer Md Abdul Malek, Aerones International owner Lutfullah Majed, its managing director Mahbub Anam, former deputy secretary Md Shafiqul Islam, and project director Md Yunus Bhuiyan.
The ACC says the investigation is continuing and has indicated that further arrests may follow as financial records and procurement decisions linked to the project are examined in detail.
The Cox’s Bazar Airport expansion has been promoted as a key component of Bangladesh’s tourism and connectivity strategy. However, the unfolding corruption probe has raised fresh concerns about governance, transparency and accountability in large-scale infrastructure development.
