The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) has called for the formation of a dedicated taskforce to strengthen transparency, accountability and technical oversight in Bangladesh’s development projects, while also urging the government to introduce a formal service framework for engineers working in the private sector.
The demands were raised during a media interaction held on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, at the IEB headquarters in Ramna, marking the organisation’s 78th founding anniversary, observed as Engineers’ Day. The event brought together editors, chief reporters, senior journalists, and professionals from leading print, electronic and online media platforms.
The session was chaired by Engineer Mohammad Reazul Islam, while Honorary Assistant General Secretary (Administration and Finance) Engineer Muhammad Ahsanul Rasel moderated the discussion. Addressing the gathering, IEB Vice President (Administration and Finance) Engineer A.T.M. Tanbir-ul Hasan highlighted the growing importance of collaboration between engineers and the media in communicating national development and technological progress to the public.
He said Bangladesh’s rapid infrastructure and industrial expansion has made the role of engineers increasingly significant, adding that the media can help raise awareness about the contributions of the engineering community and the challenges faced by professionals in the sector.
Presenting an overview of IEB’s current activities and policy concerns, Honorary General Secretary Prof Dr Engr Md. Sabbir Mostafa Khan said the engineering profession in Bangladesh is facing structural imbalance, particularly in employment and career security. According to him, more than 70 percent of engineers in the country currently work in the private sector due to limited recruitment opportunities in government institutions.
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He alleged that many private-sector engineers continue to face low salaries, weak job security, inadequate benefits and arbitrary termination practices without notice. Describing private-sector engineers as the “backbone” of project implementation at the field level, he said the absence of a structured national service policy has created a major disparity between public and private sector professionals.
IEB leaders argued that introducing a formal service framework for private-sector engineers would help ensure fair wages, professional protection, career progression and improved project quality.
They urged the government to instruct relevant ministries and regulatory authorities to formulate policies that would establish standard employment conditions and professional rights for engineers employed in industries, consultancy firms, construction companies and manufacturing sectors.
The organisation also expressed concern over the appointment of non-technical individuals to leadership positions in engineering-related organisations, regulatory bodies and state-owned enterprises.
Prof Sabbir stressed that technically qualified engineers should be appointed as chairpersons, managing directors, board heads and project directors in development projects to ensure effective planning, implementation and monitoring.
He further called for timely promotions and appropriate grading for engineers working in public institutions, criticising the practice of keeping professionals in acting or additional-charge positions for prolonged periods.
In his presidential speech, Engineer Mohammad Reazul Islam said many development projects undertaken in recent years had faced allegations of corruption, irregularities, inflated costs and poor implementation standards. To address these issues, he announced plans to form a specialized IEB taskforce aimed at monitoring project execution, promoting accountability and strengthening professional oversight in development activities.
He said sustainable national development cannot be achieved through infrastructure investment alone and requires good governance, transparency, technical competence and accountability at every stage of implementation.
He also noted that the current IEB committee has restored transparency in the organisation’s membership process and enrolled around 12,000 new members during its tenure.
Senior IEB leaders attending the event included Vice President (Academic and International) Engr Khan Monjur Morshed, Vice President (HRD) Engr Sheikh Al Amin, Vice President (S&DW) Engr Niaz Uddin Bhuiyan, Honorary Assistant General Secretary (HRD) Engr Md Nur Amin and Honorary Assistant General Secretary (S&DW) Engr Sabbir Ahmed Osmani.
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Representatives from the Dhaka Centre of IEB were also present, including Chairman Engr Helal Uddin Talukder, Vice Chairmen Engr Abdullah Al Mamun and Engr Md Kamrul Hasan, along with Honorary Secretary Engr K.M. Asaduzzaman.
The media interaction was attended by senior representatives from several television channels, newspapers and journalists’ organisations, including DBC News, Boishakhi TV, Bangladesh Television, GTV, Dhaka Tribune, The Financial Express and Daily Janakantha, among others.
Journalists participating in the discussion raised concerns regarding transparency in project implementation, cost escalation, quality control, governance challenges and the need for stronger policy reforms in the engineering sector.
In response, IEB leaders said the organisation would continue engaging with policymakers, media professionals and stakeholders on issues related to energy security, sustainable infrastructure, industrial development and Bangladesh’s transition toward a technology-driven economy.
