The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has faced repeated corruption scandals over the past year, yet no significant legal action has been taken against those responsible.

Allegations of embezzlement and malpractice involving employees and contractors have tarnished the DNCC’s image, with no accountability in sight.

Major controversies include the Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) larvicide import scandal, the Novaluron pesticide purchase scam and the Tk3,600-per-kilogram biscuit procurement fiasco.

Despite public outcry and media coverage, none of these cases have been thoroughly investigated, nor have any perpetrators been penalised.

In August 2023, DNCC faced widespread criticism after it was revealed that a contractor, Marshal Agrovet Chemical Industries Ltd, imported BTI larvicide from China using forged import licenses.

The product was falsely labelled by Singaporean company Best Chemical Co (S) Pte Ltd, and a Chinese citizen was falsely presented as a BTI expert.

Although the Chattogram customs authorities and DNCC filed a case against Marshal Agrovet, no legal action was taken against DNCC officials responsible for overseeing the purchase, including former purchase officer Ramendranath Biswas, former assistant store officer Rahat Al Faysal and former chief health officer Zobaidur Rahman.

Furthermore, Marshal Agrovet remains active in the e-GP (e-government procurement) system.

In November 2024, a Daily Sun investigation revealed that DNCC purchased Novaluron larvicide at an inflated price—Tk21,068 per kilogram, while the actual cost was approximately Tk2,100 per kilogram.

Officials manipulated price assessments by collecting quotations from irrelevant companies tied to the same business group, Genetica Industries Ltd.

Despite glaring irregularities, no one has been held accountable for this fraud.

In a more recent controversy, DNCC’s Zone-3 Revenue Supervisor Mehedi Hasan Risad was accused of soliciting Tk2 lakh bribes from flat owners in exchange for tax reductions. Despite the severity of the allegations, DNCC has yet to take action against him.

Earlier this year, the Daily Sun reported that DNCC’s emergency funds were misused, with biscuits purchased for an astounding Tk3,600 per kilogram. Again, no action has been taken to address this misuse of public money.

When approached for comment, DNCC CEO Mir Khairul Alam claimed ignorance regarding the BTI scandal, saying, “It happened before my tenure.”

He added that investigations into the Novaluron and emergency fund misuse are ongoing and promised disciplinary action against the revenue supervisor.

DNCC Administrator Mahmudul Hasan echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the Novaluron issue and pledging to investigate the allegations.

However, he deflected responsibility for the BTI scandal, citing his recent appointment.