Special Correspondent:

Though, both the time and cost of Faecal Sludge and Solid Waste Management Plant’s construction project under the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) in Sirajganj have increased again, no remarkable progress has been found since the beginning of the project that looms uncertainty over its completion even after in the extended time.

Speaking to journalists, Md. Rokonuzzaman, Executive Engineer of DPHE in Sirajganj said, “Last few months have passed to remove the wastes dumped by municipal authorities. This is why; the progress of the project is not coming to notice so far.

Exen Md. Rokonuzzaman

In reality, there is no progress of the project due to negligence of the concerned contracting firm M/S Noor & Co and officials of the DPHE in Sirajganj as a Dhaka based construction firm named M/S Noor & Co carries the work by its sub-contractor. As a result, there is no necessary monitoring even headache of the relevant authorities, insiders said.

Locals say that after a few days, another excuse, such as global instability (war), may be added to justify the demand for delay.

It is to be mentioned that, the Bangladesh government with the financial support of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) took the project titled “Inclusive and Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene Project in 10 Priority Towns in Bangladesh. Under supervision of DPHE, the government sanctioned Tk 131,899,296 for the construction of no-1 Faecal Sludge and no-1 Solid Waste Management Plant/System at Bonbaria area, also outskirt of Sirajganj municipal town. DPHE gave the work order to Dhaka based constructing firm M/S Noor & Co, which started the work on January 1, 2025 last.

Though, there was a directive to implement the project under municipality area, the project site was determined in a union level (Bonbaria union), also outside of the municipality due to unknown reason.

Since the beginning of the project, construction work is going on a snail’s pace due to negligence of the construction firm and concerned officials. The Daily Sky earlier on January 17 published a report with the title “IsDB funded DPHE project in Sirajganj goes on at a snail’s pace”.

At that time (during the period of first report of The Daily Sky in January last), Rokonuzzaman, EE of DPHE in Sirajganj claimed 40 percent progress of the project works and recently he has similarly claimed 60 percent progress of the work. But, unauthorized sources claimed that the overall progress will not cross above the 15-20 percent.

During the spot visit, no notable progress of the project work was noticed compared to the previous period. Even, there was no presence of relevant persons or construction equipments of the constructing firm at the site.

Replying to the query of a journalist, Rokon said, “About six months have gone to remove the garbage dumped by local Pourashova. For this reason, no remarkable progress is noticed so far at the project site.

He further said, the project completion time has been extended until June 2027 instead of 2026. With the extension of time, about 10 percent of the cost may be increased against the project to make it completed.

File Photo

Noted that, a gate wall was constructed beside the Sirajganj-Kodda road and few temporary structures including an office room were set up in the project site by the contractor. But, most of the structures were damaged due to lack of care. The doors of two latrines were taken away by thieves after breaking.