The five WDB officials are Rajshahi Superintendent Engineer Jasim Uddin, Executive Engineer Saidul Islam, sub-divisional engineers Nasir Uddin and Khalilur Rahman, and Senior Accounts Clerk Gyas Uddin.

A contractor farm --Khondokar Corporation-- has also been sued in the case filed by contractor Subhas Chandra Sarkar with the Senior Special Judge's court on March 13.

He alleged that Khondokar Corporation was favoured in awarding the tender for Thanapara Padma bank protection work at Charghat upazila, ignoring the lowest bidder.

Some influential circles are now pressing Shubhas for withdrawing the case and threatening him with death for non-compliance, sources claimed.

According to the case, WDB floated the tender on October 15 last year for works in six groups. The last date for dropping tender was November 17. Several hundred contractors including Shubhas participated in the bidding.

Shubhas was selected the lowest bidder in Group D. He quoted Tk 32 lakh against the government allotment of Tk 49.35 lakh.

But WDB awarded the work to Khondokar Corporation that quoted Tk 47 lakh and given the work order on January 17.

Such irregularities were also done in awarding contracts for rest of the work in five other groups, which would cause Tk 1.41 crore loss to the government, the plaintiff alleged.

Shubhas also alleged that WDB officials abused their power for personal financial gains.