The Public Works Department (PWD) has come under scrutiny over allegations of irregularities involving transfers and postings, tender processes and the release of funds for development projects.Three supervising engineers, reportedly considered close to PWD Chief Engineer Md Khalekuzzaman Chowdhury, have emerged at the centre of the allegations. Some officials within the department refer to them as the three Pandavs.They are Establishment Branch Supervising Engineer Muhammad Sarwar Jahan, recently transferred Dhaka Circle-1 Supervising Engineer Mohammad Badrul Alam Khan, and Dhaka Circle-2 Supervising Engineer Dr Abu Naser Chowdhury.Several engineers allege that the group has influenced the placement of preferred officials in key positions, helped selected contractors secure projects and exerted influence over the release of project funds. They also claim that effective action was not taken in some cases despite allegations of irregularities.Sarwar Jahan and Abu Naser Chowdhury have denied the allegations. Repeated attempts to obtain comments from Badrul Alam Khan went unanswered.Badrul faces allegations over major projectsBadrul Alam Khan faces a number of allegations, according to officials familiar with the matter. One allegation concerns the renovation of a government bungalow used by a minister, which was reportedly awarded without a tender on grounds of urgency. There are also allegations that the estimated cost was inflated and that the additional money was shared.During his tenure at Savar Circle, Badrul allegedly placed Executive Engineer Md Hezbull Kabir, considered close to him, in charge of Gazipur and used him to coordinate with contractors and distribute work among preferred firms.Projects cited in the allegations include the Agricultural Marketing Building, estimated at Tk5 crore; a BSTI civil project worth Tk15.41 crore; the Metropolitan Sadar Police Station project worth Tk20.24 crore; Sadar Upazila Model Mosque, Tk14.61 crore; Kaliakair Police Station, around Tk10 crore; Pubail Police Station, Tk16.24 crore; and Konabari Police Station, around Tk15.82 crore.However, it was not independently possible to verify whether irregularities occurred in each of these projects or whether they were influenced by the same individuals.Questions have also been raised over the construction of an auditorium at Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital. Officials allege that instructions from the ministry to reduce additional costs were ignored and funds from another head were used. An advance bill of around Tk4 crore was allegedly paid to the contractor, while the work remained incomplete after the deadline. Another Tk6-8 crore may be required to complete the project, they claim.Allegations of blackmailSeveral executive engineers have also alleged attempts to collect money by using women to blackmail officials. According to them, demands ranging from Tk20 lakh to Tk25 lakh were made in some cases.Md Atiqul Islam, executive engineer of Khulna PWD, said a woman had called him while he was posted in Dhaka and attempted to blackmail him. He later learned that she knew Badrul Alam. Atiqul claimed that Badrul asked him to settle the matter. He was subsequently removed from duty and transferred to Khulna about six months later.Questions over transfersSarwar Jahan has also faced allegations concerning transfers and postings. The ministry recently introduced a lottery system to curb alleged trading of postings. Officials, however, alleged that 41 names had been inserted into the lottery box beforehand for sub-assistant engineer (civil) posts in Dhaka district.Sarwar has denied knowledge of any pre-filled lottery box, saying transfer decisions are handled by the ministry.Earlier, while serving as executive engineer in Gazipur, Sarwar allegedly encashed a contractor’s Tk10 lakh security deposit pay order illegally. Following a complaint on August 5, 2023, the PWD formed an investigation committee. Sources said the allegations were substantiated and a departmental case was filed against him.Despite this, he was promoted and later appointed to the influential Establishment Branch.Allegations against Abu NaserDr Abu Naser Chowdhury has been accused of making payments beyond the progress of work, approving additional costs and pressuring executive engineers to award projects to preferred contractors.Officials claim that more than 100 audit objections exist against works under Dhaka Circle-2, which covers the Secretariat, High Court and nearby government hospitals.Abu Naser denied the allegations, saying, Sir brought me from Bogura to Dhaka, but I am not involved in any syndicate or irregularities.Ministry promises actionHousing and Public Works Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman said the ministry had heard allegations about a syndicate surrounding the chief engineer and related officials.We are monitoring reports published in the media. One official has already been made OSD over controversial activities. If evidence of wrongdoing is found against others, action will be taken, he said.Officials familiar with the matter have called for scrutiny of relevant documents, tender procedures, project bills and audit objections to establish whether the allegations are substantiated.