GK Shamim indicted in Chittagong University graft case

Bangla Press Desk: A Chattogram court has ordered GK Shamim, a controversial contractor for government projects, to stand trial in an Anti-Corruption Commission case over alleged fraud in securing a Tk 750 million construction contract at Chittagong University.

Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Md Mizanur Rahman framed charges against Shamim and fixed Sept 20 for the complainant’s testimony.

Shamim is the sole accused in the case.

ACC Public Prosecutor Md Rezaul Karim Rony told bdnews24.com that Shamim had been granted bail by the High Court.

The ACC filed the case in November 2020 against Shamim, then managing director of GK B and Company Ltd, and Fazlul Karim Chowdhury, managing director of The Builders Engineers Associates.

The case concerns the contract to build Chittagong University’s Sixth Academic Building.

Fazlul was dropped from the charge sheet submitted in 2025 after investigators said they found no evidence linking him to the alleged fraud.

According to the ACC investigation, The Builders Engineers–GKBL joint venture allegedly used forged documents and false information to secure the Tk 750 million project.

Fakhrul Islam, then an assistant director of the ACC and complainant in the case, previously told bdnews24.com that forged documents had been submitted with the tender application and company information had been altered.

The joint venture, which emerged as the lowest bidder, was awarded the contract to construct the university’s Sixth Academic Building, which houses the second Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

The ACC alleges the bidders combined the name of a sole proprietorship with the company’s registered name, presented a registration under that combined name and showed a number of shares exceeding the company’s registered shareholding.

The case statement also alleges that fabricated documents were submitted to satisfy tender requirements relating to 10 years of experience, completion of multistorey building projects in the previous five years and minimum turnover.

The tender was invited on Aug 28, 2016.

GK B and Company (Pvt) Ltd participated as the lead firm, while The Builders Engineers Associates Ltd was the partner-in-charge.

The joint venture emerged as the lowest bidder and signed a Tk 750 million contract on Nov 14, 2016.

At the time, a faction of the Bangladesh Chhatra League at Chittagong University reportedly prevented other contractors from collecting tender documents. The dispute later led to clashes and vandalism between two BCL factions.

Only two companies ultimately submitted bids.

Amid the dispute over the project, the family and supporters of Chhatra League leader Diyaz Irfan Chowdhury alleged that he had been murdered on Nov 20, 2016.