“Give me Tk 2cr and I’ll sign everything”

A video of Nurul Amin, executive engineer at the Power Development Board (PDB), apparently taking a bribe and talking about it has spread on Facebook. It went viral from Sunday night and set off widespread discussion and criticism across the Laxmipur district.

In the video, which runs for about 8 minutes 50 seconds, Nurul Amin, the Lakshmipur PDB executive engineer, can be heard saying that “AC sir” has agreed, and that he will not budge from Tk 2 crore, not even on a Tk 6 crore figure.

He says he will go to the chairman if need be, and asks what the chairman could say if he took Tk 2 crore for a single bill, suggesting he would simply be given a suitable posting. He argues that on a Tk 3 lakh job, materials worth Tk 30 lakh are claimed, so the contractor must have embezzled around Tk 5 crore in materials, and says that if he is given Tk 2 crore of that, he will sign everything.

The video also shows him receiving cash from several people, whose faces are not visible and whose identities have not been confirmed. He asks them, “How much is here?”, and one replies, “35 here, sir.” The engineer says, “One lakh 35,” and the man replies, “I gave one lakh earlier, sir.”

Many have alleged that, after the video emerged, Nurul Amin has no right to remain in his post and is a corrupt official. Consumers have called on the PDB to take action against him.

When contacted for comment, Nurul Amin did not answer despite repeated calls to his official mobile number.