Fresh Concerns Over Alleged Irregularities in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion

Strategic Insights -

The high-profile Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport expansion project in Bangladesh is facing fresh concerns over alleged irregularities, with arrest warrants issued against several key officials and company owners involved in the project's expansion. The case centers around a dispute between Pleiades Construction and Consulting Limited, a subcontractor, and the main contractors, Mitsubishi Corporation and Samsung CandT Corporation, over unpaid compensation and the handing over of work to another company without a performance guarantee deposit.

Key Takeaways:

  • Arrest warrants have been issued against six individuals, including Tueok Yang, Central Manager of the Airport Expansion Project, and Kyongiu Kang, former project Manager, for alleged irregularities in the expansion project.
  • The expansion project, originally contracted to Mitsubishi Corporation and Samsung CandT Corporation, involved various subcontractors for local implementation, with Pleiades Construction and Consulting Limited at the center of the controversy.
  • A fraud case (Case No. 1749/25) was filed at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on March 9, 2025, against several individuals, including senior project officials from the main contractors and former project managers.
  • Pleiades Construction has claimed it never received due compensation or formal confirmation of contract execution, despite employing 33 staff for over four years with monthly salary expenses exceeding BDT 2 million.
  • A performance guarantee commission amounting to BDT 92.5 million annually was allegedly bypassed, with the work being handed over to another company without the requisite performance guarantee deposit.

Statistics:

  • 33 staff were employed by Pleiades Construction across various categories for over four years, with monthly salary expenses exceeding BDT 2 million.
  • The performance guarantee commission allegedly bypassed was amounting to BDT 92.5 million annually.
  • Arrest warrants were issued against up to six individuals, including Tueok Yang, Yongkwan Choi, Kyongiu Kang, Heescok Him, Sayem Chowdhury, and Yuyok Young.

Sources:

  • Bangladeshi newspaper, citing sources
  • Court documents from Case No. 1749/25 at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court
  • Statements from Stakeholders, including Zubair Akhter Chowdhury, Managing Director of Pleiades Construction, and Sayem Chowdhury, Central Manager for Samsung

Note: The date of the article or case is not explicitly mentioned in the source material.