An investigation has revealed major irregularities in land acquisition for the Keowatkhali Bridge project in Mymensingh. Official records show that in Award No. 71, several deceased individuals—such as Ayatun Nessa, Firoza Khatun, Olimun Nessa, and Kod Banu—were listed as landowners despite having passed away 10 to 40 years ago.

When questioned about this anomaly, officials at Mymensingh’s land acquisition office refused to comment. The surveyors who signed the award, Md. Mohiuddin and Md. Azhar, also did not respond to multiple calls. Legal experts confirmed that awards cannot be issued in the name of deceased individuals; instead, such claims should go to their legal heirs if they had ownership rights before passing away.

Following public complaints about irregularities in land acquisition and road design for the bridge, a three-member investigation committee was formed under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on January 22, 2025. The committee, led by a joint secretary, held hearings and conducted an on-site inspection on January 25-26 at Mymensingh Circuit House. However, the findings of the committee’s report have not yet been disclosed.

A ministry insider revealed that the Mymensingh District Land Acquisition Office submitted a report stating that full compensation was disbursed under LA Case No. 04/2022-23. However, an on-the-ground investigation suggests that only 5-10% of the compensation funds may have actually been distributed.

The Keowatkhali Arch Steel Bridge, modeled after Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, is being implemented by the Roads and Highways Department at a cost of BDT 3,263.63 crore. Of this, BDT 1,353.82 crore is sourced from the government, while the remaining amount is funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The project, which began on July 1, 2021, is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025. However, unauthorized design modifications and excessive land acquisition have inflated costs by nearly BDT 2,000 crore.

A total of 33.2 hectares of land is being acquired for the project, but allegations suggest that officials have engaged in financial misconduct by manipulating land classifications. Agricultural land has been falsely documented as homesteads, makeshift tin-shed structures have been valued as large factories, and low-cost properties have been massively overvalued. This has fueled large-scale embezzlement, with certain groups benefiting from fraudulent compensation payouts.

At the core of this scandal, the project’s connection roads have been unnecessarily rerouted through densely populated areas and commercial zones with numerous factories and businesses—allegedly to enable land acquisition fraud. As a result, an organized syndicate within the district administration is accused of siphoning off millions through inflated valuations and rushed compensation payments on disputed land.