Rehennuma Tarannum:

Uncertainty grows over the timely completion of a bridge construction work over the Katakhali canal at Bahirgola area in Sirajganj town as the second contracting firm is allegedly working at a snail’s pace after leaving it by the first contractor.

Alongside, there is a complaint of carrying low quality work against the contracting firm.

As a result, anger is prevailing among the local commuters specially people of neighboring 20 villages including Bhangabari, Ranigram, Janpur, Khokshabari, Rahmatganj and Bahirgola as they fear that the sufferings may be prolonged in future.

Complainants alleged that, various substandard materials including rod, cement and sand are being used in the construction work in a bid to save money and earn additional profit from the current allocation as bulk portion of the money allocated in the first phase tender was pocketed by the previous contractor and some unscrupulous officials of Water Development Board (WDB).

According to the sources, the government under supervision of the WDB had taken a project in 2021 involving Tk 7.28 crore to construct a-48 meter long bridge over the Katakhali canal at Bahirgola area near the oldest railway bridge in the town.

WDB gave the work order to a Jeshore based constructing firm-Moin Uddin Bashi. The construction firm built just two small structures at the site in four years and then fled after withdrawing Tk 2.68 crore with the help of WDB officials. Although, a fine of Tk 4.6 million was imposed later against the contractor, experts seem that, the remaining money was wasted due to negligence and weak supervision by the authorities concerned.

After the incident, WDB initiated for retender and awarded the project work to Amin and Co with an estimated cost of Tk 4.71 crore. June 25, 2027 has been fixed as its next completion deadline. But, questions have intensified over its slow progress and use of low-quality materials in the works.

Declining the allegation, Monayem, one of the contracting partners for the project said, “About 60 percent progress will be noticed after completion of casting with cement. We hope to complete the remaining works before deadline.”

“We have increased supervision and put pressure on the contractor to complete the work within the stipulated time,” said Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Engineer of WDB in Sirajganj adding that “This time only Tk 1.5 crore has been paid to the contractor as bill so that he can’t flee leaving the work like previous contractor.”

But he did not comment on the poor quality of the work.