Engineer transferred, ACC begins probe
Basail Upazila Engineer Kazi Fattahur Rahman of Tangail has been transferred with immediate effect following allegations that bamboo was used instead of reinforcing rods during the casting of a footpath slab on a bridge project costing over Tk 10 crore.
According to an office order signed by Md. Belal Hossain, Chief Engineer (Grade-1) of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Kazi Fattahur Rahman was transferred from Basail upazila to the Rowangchhari Upazila Engineer’s Office in Bandarban on Thursday.
Kazi Fattahur Rahman confirmed his stand release. Sources said investigations into the alleged irregularities in the bridge construction are continuing at multiple levels.
The incident has already led to disciplinary action against several officials. LGED Sub-Assistant Engineer Md. Moniruzzaman has been suspended, while show-cause notices have been issued to Tangail LGED Executive Engineer Jahanara Parveen and Basail Upazila Engineer Kazi Fattahur Rahman for alleged negligence of duty.
Meanwhile, police arrested sub-contractor Shah Alam after a case
was filed in connection with the incident. The case was filed against contractor SM Jahangir Alam and sub-contractor Shah Alam.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also launched an investigation into the matter. On Wednesday, a team from the ACC Tangail office, led by Assistant Director Md. Biplob Hossain, visited the project site.
The bridge, measuring 90.06 metres in length, is being constructed over the Moraganga River at Maijkhara in Basail municipality under the Basail GC-Kauljani UP via Maijkhara GPS road project. The estimated cost of the project is Tk 10 crore 9 lakh 92 thousand.
The construction work is being carried out by a joint venture of Messrs Yunus Al Mamun and Messrs Zakir Enterprise. The project began in September 2022 and was scheduled to be completed in February this year. However, the completion deadline was extended after the work remained unfinished.
Around 80 percent of the bridge construction has been completed, while the remaining 20 percent is still pending.
Local residents alleged that on 20 September at around 10:30pm, workers of the contracting firm began casting the footpath slab using bamboo instead of reinforcing rods. After locals noticed the alleged irregularity and intervened, the work was stopped temporarily.
Residents recorded videos of the incident on their mobile phones. They claimed that after they left the site, construction resumed at night and the casting work was completed. The videos later spread on social media, drawing attention from authorities.
When contacted, Tangail LGED Executive Engineer Jahanara Parveen declined to comment on the transfer of Kazi Fattahur Rahman but confirmed that show-cause notices had been issued to the two engineers.
