A tender-winner for constructing a tunnel in Bandarban bus terminal area has handed over the project to another contractor without acknowledgement of the authorities concerned.

Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB) offered the tender for the Tk 5 crore project and MM Traders, a local construction firm, got it in 2017, said CHTDB officials.

Mong Kya Marma, owner of MM Traders, admitted that he handed over the project to one Raju Barua in exchange of five percent of the total budget.

When asked why he did so illegally, he replied, “It is very common here.”

Contacted, Raju Barua, who claimed to be a president of Bangabandhu Shishu Kishore Mela, said he gave Mong the money and is implementing the project along with four others.

Dr Prakash Kanti Chowdhury, deputy secretary (member planning) of CHTDB, said, “Handing over a project to other contractor by taking percentage is totally illegal.”

Asked about action, he said they did not know about the handover until this correspondent contacted him. “Now, we will look into the matter.”

Ershad Mia, sub-assistant engineer of CHTDB, Bandarban, said they undertook the project to save hills.

Jumlian Amlai, president of Parbatya Chattagram Forest and Land Rights Protection Movement, Bandarban chapter, said, “The tunnel construction project is nothing but embezzlement of government fund as it will never prevent hillslide; rather the engineer and the ruling party contractor will benefit from this project.”