Rangpur Correspondent:

Before it could even be finished, the much-hyped embankment along the Akhira River in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur has collapsed.

Locals alleged that the use of substandard materials and hasty construction are the reasons behind the collapse.

Under the supervision of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), some 100 metres of the riverbank protection embankment in Chatra Union of Pirganj upazila collapsed recently even though work on the 800-metre-long structure is still going on.

Visiting the site on Saturday afternoon, the correspondent found that much of the project completed and the concrete blocks being placed along the embankment. Several blocks had fallen off before installation was finished and walkway tiles were also seen getting loose.

The riverbank protection project is being implemented under the ‘Riverbank Protection, Canal Re-excavation, and Waterlogging Elimination (1st Revised)’ project, with a budget of Tk over 5.34 crore.

Rangpur-based contractor Bharat Prasad was awarded the contract in July 2024 with a scheduled completion date of 30 June 2026.

Local residents expressed concerns over the integrity of the work saying that during floods the embankment would fail to protect their homes and agricultural land.

“Soil was dumped without proper compaction and the blocks are not holding due to the soft base,” one resident alleged.

A number of locals, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the work was carried out hastily during the rainy season which has now led to the structural damage.

They said the embankment, constructed wasting taxpayers’ money, may not last long.

Shyamal Chandra Roy, a manager from the contractor’s firm, acknowledged the issue but attributed the collapse to soil condition rather than poor-quality work.

“The project period is still on. We are repairing the problematic sections as needed,” he said.

When contacted, contractor Bharat Prasad confirmed that approximately 480 metres of work on both sides of the river was completed, with 130 metres in stable condition.

“There were issues in soil layers which led to the collapse. We’ve tried fixing it once, but the problem reappeared. This cannot be fully resolved in the current season. We will fix it once condition improves,” he added.

BWDB Assistant Engineer TM Israfill Haque denied allegations of irregularities saying, “This project was intended for aesthetic development. There was no clause for dumping in the contract. The collapse occurred due to excess water pressure. We’ve already instructed the contractor to carry out repairs.”

Responding to the allegations of substandard materials, he said, “There is no scope for irregularities. The blocks were tested by Buet, and any of that failed initial tests were discarded. As per the contract, the contractor is bound to repair any damage within a  year.”

BWDB Executive Engineer in Rangpur Robiul Islam said the canal was under lease and retained water until April and again in May. “The sudden saturation of soil likely caused the collapse.”

The contractor is bound to repair any faults within one year and they are working accordingly, he asserted.