Lack of service lanes blamed

Special Correspondent:

Though, the Sirajganj district police in collaboration with highway police in Bogura circle have taken tight security measures to prevent robbery and road accidents on the highway before Eid-ul-Azha, the efforts are going to vain due to incompletion of  Elenga-Rangpur 4-lane project’s work at different places especially from Sirajganj’s Hatikumrul to Bogura’s Mirzapur.

Drivers, helpers and commuters of different transports complained that, due to lack of service lanes (side road) at different points of the under construction highway, three wheelers including CNG driven auto-rickshaws and battery run van are plying through the main lanes that posing serious threat of fatal accidents.

Of the 190 km Elenga-Rangpur four-lane project, slow pace of construction from Hatikumrul to Mirzapur has caused of worst sufferings.

According to Sirajganj district police, at least 508 police personnel have been deployed to maintain discipline on the highway. The cops have been performing to prevent robbery and extortion on different transports including cattle laden trucks. They are acting to control speed limit by monitoring through CCTV footages. With the aim, a good number of CCTVs have been installed at different points on the highway to monitor fulltime situation. Besides, police are playing vital role to prevent setting up cattle market on the roadsides in order to keep the highway free from congestion eve of the Eid-ul-Azha.

Abdur Rauf, Officer in Charge of Hatikumrul Highway police station said, “The overall situation of the highway is under control. But, we are in fear of occurring fatal accidents at some risky points due to lack of service lanes. Of them, Hatikumrul to Chandaikona portion is highly risky as all sorts of vehicles are plying through the main lanes for want of side roads.”

BEHIND THE SCREEN:

Improvement of the 190-kilometer highway to four-lane from Elenga in Tangail to Rangpur covering Sirajganj, Bogura and Gaibandha districts is part of the South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC-2) project. The work to upgrade the highway to four lanes under this project began in 2016. The work is scheduled to be completed by December next year after being extended in several phases. The total cost of the project has been set at Tk 19,560 crore.

Of the total 13 packages in the project, the work condition of package 7 and 13 is deplorable. Out of this, construction firm Abdul Monem Limited is working on the 28-kilometer portion from Hatikumrul intersection to Chandaikona under package-7. The construction cost of this section has been set at Tk 1,179 crore. Although, there are massive complaints about the progress of the work, the contractor has already withdrawn bill of Tk 890 crore with the assistance of Project Manager Mahbub and his top bosses.

The concerned project manager and executive engineer Mahbubur Rahman Russel claims, “Despite giving opportunities for five times to Abdul Monem Limited, its work speed has not yet been increased. However, we have paid their bills in which they enhance their speed of the works to complete it on time.”

On the other hand, there are similar complaints in the case of the construction of Hatikumrul Interchange, which is being constructed under the package-13. The construction of Hatikumrul Interchange is being carried out by the China Railway Construction Bridge (CRCB) Engineering Limited at a cost of Tk 743 crore.

Although, the work has not progressed as desired, this contracting company, with the cooperation of project manager and executive engineer Mahbubur Rahman and his close associate Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE) Shorforaz Hossain, has already withdrawn bill of about Tk 350 crore.

Both the construction firms are trying to withdraw remaining bills before completion of the project works, insiders said.

Due to lack of proper monitoring by the higher authorities and huge irregularities and negligence of the Project Manager Mahbubur Rahman Russel and SDE Shorforaz Hossain, such as deplorable condition of the project has been created there, locals said.

Reliable sources said, Mahbubur Rahman Russel, who was close relative and very reliable of the then Awami League leader and Road Transport and Bridges affairs Minister Obaidul Quader, managed higher authorities and even concerned taskforce in context of withdrawing the contractors’ bills in exchange of a certain percent commission. Thus, he has amassed huge amount of money, which have already been siphoned abroad.

There is allegation that, since joining in the SASEC-II project, he along with his wife and three kids visited several countries including China more than one time.  Those travels might have been linked with money siphoning, which may come out, if Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) conducts fair investigation into the allegations, relevant sources claimed.

Locals urged intervention of ACC to find out Mahbub and his associates’ corruption and anomalies for the sake of nation.

Declining allegation of realizing commission from contractors, Project Manager Mahbubur Rahman said, “As far as I remember, I went abroad in 2019 and 2023 on behalf of the project. Besides, my wife and children went with their own costs. So, there is no scope of realizing commission and siphoning money abroad.”

But, no one of the construction firms agreed to make comment in these regards.