During the three consecutive terms of the ousted Awami League government, most of the development projects under the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) were awarded to just 10 to 15 contractors. These contractors took on more work than they could handle, which affected the quality of construction and delayed project implementation. That delay later impacted overall construction costs. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government amid the student-led mass uprising, many of these influential contractors were blacklisted. However, the same old arrangement still prevails at the RHD. Some contractors are still securing hundreds of contracts on their own.

One of the prominent contractors at RHD was Moinuddin (Banshi). From 2011 to 2024, the company received a total of 702 work orders from the RHD, with a total contract value of around BDT 6.5 billion. Despite the fall of the AL government on August 5, 2024, the company received another 315 work orders from the department, worth around BDT 4 billion.

Another influential contracting company during the Awami League’s tenure was Muhammad Aminul Haque (Pvt.) Limited. Between 2011 and 2024, the firm received 3,894 work orders from the RHD, with a total contract value of BDT 45.69 billion. After August 5 last year, the company was awarded another 154 work orders, worth BDT 2.38 billion.

Transport infrastructure experts believe that it is never feasible for a single contractor to implement hundreds of projects at the same time. They pointed out that in the past, when a handful of contractors were awarded so many projects, the quality of work deteriorated and implementation was delayed. Some contractors did not even do the work themselves, subcontracting it to third parties instead. This has had a negative impact on the quality of the finished infrastructure.

Professor Dr. Md Shamsul Hoque of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) told Bonik Barta, “When one contractor handles too many projects at once, it puts a strain on their finances. Without enough capital on hand, their projects stall, and the quality drops. Ultimately, this pressure falls back on the implementing agency. What we all want is a competitive tendering process for construction work, where only qualified firms win contracts. No contractor should be awarded more projects than they can realistically manage.”

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) owns and manages nearly 22,419 kilometers of roads and highways across the country. This national network is maintained, upgraded, and expanded by contractors under RHD’s supervision. However, due to poor-quality construction, a large portion of these roads is now in disrepair. A striking example is the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, considered the economic lifeline of the country. The highway has become riddled with potholes at multiple points, including in Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Cumilla, Feni, and Chattogram. Since its expansion into four lanes in 2017, a maintenance project worth BDT 7.93 billion has been ongoing for this highway. Yet, even during this maintenance work, potholes have reappeared.

The Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and several other regional roads are also in poor shape. The condition is worse in district-level roads. The ongoing monsoon has only made things worse.

A significant portion of the maintenance and development work on these dilapidated roads was done by the same group of contractors who were awarded hundreds of contracts. These contractors have often been accused of substandard construction. Many stakeholders hold them primarily responsible for the declining condition of the country’s roads and highways.

Dr. Md Shamsul Hoque pointed out that the system, built during the Awami League’s tenure, which enabled a few contractors to secure an excessive number of projects, should have been dismantled by the current caretaker government. “This is the perfect time to reform that system,” he said. “Whether it’s the RHD or other agencies, they should take the lead in changing it for their own good. If this cycle continues and the same contractors keep getting hundreds of projects, the agencies themselves—more than the government—will be held accountable.”

During the AL government, Mohammed Eunus & Brothers (Pvt.) Ltd was one of the top contractors for the Roads and Highways Department (RHD). Although the firm was blacklisted for violating regulations, a court order later suspended the decision, allowing it to re-enter RHD tenders. Since August 5, 2024, the company has received 205 work orders worth BDT 820 million.

Despite securing over a hundred contracts in a short time, firms like Moinuddin (Banshi), Muhammad Aminul Haque (Pvt.) Ltd., and Mohammed Eunus & Brothers (Pvt.) Ltd are being defended by Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. He told Bonik Barta, “The situation is changing. Previously, there was no real competition in the bidding process. Who would get the contract was often pre-decided, and tenders were merely a formality. That has decreased significantly now, though some exceptions remain. We are planning structural reforms in public procurement. Once implemented, the process will become more competitive and equitable.”

Although Eunus & Brothers avoided blacklisting through court intervention, several influential contractors from the AL era remain blacklisted by the RHD. According to department sources, major contractors such as Hassan Techno Builders, Rana Builders, National Development Engineers (NDE), Mojahar Enterprise, Masud Hi-Tech, Toma Construction, and Abaid Monsur Construction are currently on the blacklist. Between 2011 and 2024, these firms received billions of BDT in contracts from the RHD, many of which are still ongoing.

These companies were penalized for various violations, including submitting fake documents to participate in tenders. Conversations with RHD engineers and contractors revealed that these firms enjoyed political patronage. Backers reportedly included former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and his relatives, as well as other powerful figures such as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s relatives Sheikh Helal and Sheikh Selim, retired Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former MPs Bahauddin Bahar of Cumilla, Ekramul Karim Chowdhury of Noakhali, Shamim Osman of Narayanganj, and Awami League leader Mirza Azam.