Ex-railway engr under graft probe
Serious allegations of corruption have been raised against Md. Ramzan Ali, former Chief Engineer (West) of Bangladesh Railway, with investigations pointing to widespread irregularities during his tenure.
According to inquiry findings, Ramzan Ali allegedly approved projects worth several hundred crore taka through the Limited Tender Method (LTM), bypassing standard procurement procedures.
It is claimed that, between November 2016 and December 2018, contracts were awarded to selected contractors in exchange for a 10 per cent commission.
As a result, tenders amounting to nearly Tk 400 crore were reportedly issued outside approved budgets, creating ongoing financial liabilities for the railway authority.
In July 2022, Ramzan Ali was dismissed from service — the highest administrative penalty — for abuse of power, alleged tender manipulation and accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income. Despite this, legal proceedings and investigations remain ongoing.
Further allegations suggest that, in an attempt to deflect criticism, train speeds on the Joydebpur–Parbatipur route were increased from 90 km/h to 100 km/h without corresponding infrastructure upgrades.
This decision is said to have contributed to structural damage, including cracks in tracks and failures in concrete sleepers. On 18 March 2026, the Nilsagar Express was involved in an ???????? on the Santahar section, reportedly linked to track damage, disrupting rail services for approximately 21 hours.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed multiple cases (Case No. 7 and 8, dated 16 August 2020) against Ramzan Ali over alleged illicit wealth. Investigators have identified substantial assets in his name and that of his wife, Dilruba Parveen.
These include a six-storey house on Road No. 6, Block H, in Bashundhara Residential Area, along with additional plots of land in the same locality.
Other reported holdings include land and a five-storey residence in Singjani Mouza, Jamalpur, as well as 21 decimals of land in Pabna.
Authorities have also cited alleged deposits in both personal and proxy accounts across several banks, including Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited and BRAC Bank Limited, alongside claims of money laundering. Additional assets reportedly include a private vehicle, valuable furnishings and gold ornaments.
Although courts have ordered the attachment of certain properties, including the Bashundhara residence, there are allegations that enforcement has been delayed due to his alleged political connections.
Separately, a case filed by Shobha Khatun (P-27/2019) in Rajshahi accuses Ramzan Ali of deception involving a promise of marriage, coercion and failure to provide maintenance. The matter remains under judicial consideration.
When contacted, Ramzan Ali stated, “The allegations against me have not yet been proven,” before declining to comment further.
