S A Shofiee, Sylhet:
The 40 percent bill removed for the 8 crore taka bridge under construction on the Betrikul River in Bangla Bazar of Paschim Gauripur Union of Balaganj Upazila of Sylhet has been removed. The locals are suffering immensely as it has been abandoned for more than two years. Despite repeated reports from the villagers, no one has taken any action. On the other hand, the villagers have alleged that the bridge was constructed in an unplanned manner, ignoring the opinions or suggestions of the locals, and that poor quality construction materials were used in the construction of this bridge.
According to the Upazila Engineer, the construction of this bridge of LGED on the Bethori River on the Banglabazar to Danaram Road in West Gouripur Union of the Upazila was done by a contractor named Dhrub Mosharraf (JB) of Sherpur district through a tender of 7 crore 78 lakh 20 thousand 249 taka on 25.10.2021. Although the work was supposed to be completed by 30.08.2024, after managing the work and getting the work done, the contractor stopped the construction work by withdrawing about 40 percent of the allocated money at different times.
He stopped the work at different times on the pretext of water coming during the monsoon. Then, when the dry season ended and the rainy season came again, the contractor started some work and left it, and went missing.
Once the construction work of the bridge is completed, communication between Bangla Bazar and several neighboring villages like Tegharia, Lohamura, Atasan-Danaram, Mollapara, etc. will be easier. During the monsoon season, students of those villages use boats and bridges to go to school. This is causing them immense suffering.
Residents of Bangla Bazar, Habibur Rahman Anu, Abdus Samad, Mushahid Sikder,
Anjan Das, Subendra Das, Sadik Mia, Pranesh Das said that the bridge is the only means of transportation in our area. We have to travel by bridge during the dry season and by boat during the rainy season.
They said that since the contractor got the job, he has been working as he pleases, using low-quality construction materials without proper supervision from the Upazila Engineer’s Office. We have contacted the concerned several times to improve the quality of the work, but the contractor has not listened to us. We strongly demand that the concerned make arrangements to complete the work properly.
In addition, local beneficiaries said that since the bridge was built at a low height, boats carrying agricultural products, trawlers, sand-carrying boats and fishermen’s boats will not be able to pass under the bridge during the rainy season. As a result, if the bridge is completed, it will cause suffering to the local people. There is no end to the anger of the local residents.
When contacted, the owner of the contracting company, Dhrub Mosharraf, said that due to the changing situation of the country and various reasons, it was not possible to complete the work within the stipulated time. We are trying to extend the work period and will work if the period is extended.
Acting Chairman of Paschim Pailanpur Union Parishad, Muzefar Ali
said, the contractor has fled after abandoning the work of this bridge, I have spoken to the concerned department many times in this regard. The people of the area are suffering because the work of the bridge is not completed quickly.
Balaganj Upazila Engineer Md. Habibullah said that despite repeated communication, the contract was not completed within the stipulated time, and I have filed a written complaint with the higher authorities to cancel the work.
