The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) contractors were prevented from dropping tender schedules for Tk 3 cr rural road development work by a group of influential contractors on Tuesday.

The LGED invited tenders for rural road development work in 36 groups. According to sources in the LGED, 3,200 schedules were sold, but only 150 schedules were dropped. A group of influential contractors under a secret deal negotiated the work and prevented others from dropping schedules, according to a source.

When contacted, LGED Executive Engineer Nazmul Alam told The Daily Star at least 50 schedules were sold against each group. But he declined to say how many schedules were dropped. None submitted allegations to him regarding the tender manipulation, he further disclosed.