The officials could not attend office since December 10 after the armed gang snatched away tender documents and beat security guards at night, some of them told this correspondent when contacted. They are now living in the town.

They said work orders were given to bidders properly between December 4 and 7 on the basis of competition for river protection and flood control in Lalmonirhat. The tender was floated on October 7.

Lalmonirhat WDB Executive Engineer Zamshed Ali said some armed miscreants attacked his office twice on December 9 for not giving work to men of a local influential person.

"Pointing gun on my head, they (terrorists) asked me to leave the district immediately", said Ali who fled to Rajshahi with his family. Two other engineers are in Rajshah town he said but declined to name them for security reasons. Several others also fled to nearby districts, he said.

Ali said he complained to his senior officials at Rangpur zonal WDB office and also to Lalmonirhat police.

When contacted over phone, Rangpur zonal WDB Chief Engineer Abdul Aziz said he was also abused by miscreants when he went to Lalmonirhat on December 11 for a visit and after the incidents.

Security of WDB officials is at stake due to inaction by local law enforcers, he alleged.

When contacted over phone, a duty officer at Lalmonirhat thana confirmed that a complaint was filed. But none could be arrested as no accused was named in the case, he said.

Abdul Aziz said police were informed of the terrorists but they were not named fearing reprisal.