Assistant Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb Leaves for Germany Amid Corruption Allegations
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant on ICT and Telecommunications to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, has reportedly left the country for Germany following allegations of attempting to embezzle nearly Tk 23 billion through a controversial project of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL).
According to reliable sources, Taiyeb departed Bangladesh on Saturday morning shortly after allegations surfaced regarding a Development Project Proposal (DPP) worth Tk 23 billion aimed at “modernizing” BTCL. Investigators claim the project was grossly inflated and designed to benefit a preferred syndicate through overpricing and unnecessary procurement.
Inflated Costs and ‘Ghost’ Expenditures
A review of project documents suggests that although the proposal was framed as a modernization initiative, expenditure estimates were allegedly inflated several times over actual market prices.
The bulk of the budget—approximately Tk 16 billion—was allocated for purchasing GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology and related equipment. However, market analysis indicates that the actual value of such equipment would not exceed Tk 5 billion.
Officials allege that prices were intentionally tripled to facilitate siphoning off nearly Tk 10 billion through inflated invoices, possibly by importing low-quality equipment via preferred contractors from China or other countries.
Dubious Fiber Network Expansion
The project also earmarked Tk 5–6 billion for expanding fiber optic infrastructure. Engineering experts note that many of the targeted districts and upazilas already have existing lines operated either by BTCL or private Nationwide Telecommunications Transmission Network (NTTN) providers. The proposed duplication of infrastructure has raised concerns of deliberate overbilling.
A senior BTCL official, speaking anonymously, said civil works such as trenching and underground installations are difficult to audit, creating opportunities for fraudulent billing without actual implementation.
Software, Maintenance and Consultancy Concerns
An additional Tk 1–1.5 billion was proposed for software integration and a five-year Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC). Allegations suggest that selected IT firms were to receive payments without substantial deliverables.
Furthermore, nearly Tk 1 billion was allocated for consultancy services under the guise of project supervision—funds critics believe were intended to reward close associates.
Experts estimate the realistic cost of the entire modernization initiative should range between Tk 8–10 billion, meaning roughly Tk 15 billion may have been artificially inflated.
Allegations of Influence and Syndicate Protection
Sources within the ministry claim Taiyeb used his position to lobby the Planning Commission and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) to secure approval for the project.
He is also accused of attempting to influence the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to suppress scrutiny.
Separately, investigations are reportedly underway against his Personal Officer, Atik Morshed, over allegations of misappropriating Tk 1.5 billion from mobile financial service provider Nagad.
No Official Response
Attempts to contact Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb by phone were unsuccessful, as his mobile device was found switched off. Officials at his office declined to comment.
If approved, the Tk 23 billion project would have marked one of the largest financial scandals in Bangladesh’s ICT sector. However, as scrutiny intensified, Taiyeb allegedly chose to leave the country amid mounting allegations.
