A large-scale digital fraud is reportedly taking place across Bangladesh’s roads and highways under the guise of toll collection. Documents and video footage obtained by The Times of Dhaka suggest that at several toll plazas—including Meghna-Gomoti—millions of taka are being diverted daily instead of being deposited into the government treasury.

Funds Diverted to Hidden Servers

According to the investigation, toll payments from at least 10 vehicles every 10 minutes are not recorded in the main server. Instead, the money is allegedly routed to a concealed server. This could amount to approximately 10,000 taka being misappropriated every 10 minutes without government oversight.

Misuse of System Categories

Sources indicate that toll booth operators are entering regular vehicles into the system as “disabled” or “special category” vehicles. While drivers are charged the full toll, records falsely show them as exempt, allowing the collected funds to be embezzled.

Allegations Against Private Firm

A private company, Repnam Resources Limited, has come under scrutiny for its alleged role in the scheme. Its proprietary software is said to allow data deletion and manipulation—claims that officials within the Roads and Highways Department have reportedly acknowledged.

Estimated Annual Loss

The fraudulent activities are believed to be causing a daily loss of 5 to 7 million taka, amounting to nearly 600 crore taka annually in lost government revenue.

Evidence from Video Footage

Video footage reviewed by The Times of Dhaka shows a senior journalist questioning Roads Department officials, including an Executive Engineer, with supporting evidence. The officials were unable to provide satisfactory answers.

Superintending Engineer Dr. Nazmul Haque stated, “We are not aware of the issue—this fraud originates from the head office,” raising further concerns about oversight and accountability.

Discrepancies in Data Records

Analysis of the footage reveals significant inconsistencies between toll plaza displays and central database records. For example, while 14 vehicles reportedly crossed the Meghna-Gomoti Bridge within an hour, only 4 were recorded in the system, with the remaining entries allegedly removed.

Official Responses

A Superintending Engineer from the Roads and Highways Department in Narayanganj said, “I am personally looking into the matter, but we were unaware of such major flaws in the system.”

Meanwhile, the toll collection company has denied allegations of data manipulation, though it reportedly failed to respond when confronted with specific evidence.

Public Concerns

Drivers claim they are being charged between 800 and 900 taka per trip, yet questions remain over why such payments are not reflected in official records. Concerns have also been raised over transactions where 900 taka payments are recorded as “free” under minimal-value digital tokens.

The Times of Dhaka states that its investigation is ongoing and aims to uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption and identify those responsible.