626,526 Taka returned for alleged irregularities in Kalihati

There are serious allegations of massive irregularities, corruption, wastage of government money, and mismanagement in the Prime Minister’s Priority Canal Excavation Project in Parkhi Union of Kalihati Upazila of Tangail.

According to sources from the Kalihati Upazila Project Implementation Officer’s office, 626,526 taka has been returned to the national treasury.

The 1-kilometer canal re-excavation project, which is being implemented from Kumarsi Beel (Kumri) near Bhiayil in Parkhi Union of Kalihati Upazila of Tangail to Khorshed Doctor’s land in Gowaria, was accepted by the Kalihati Upazila Project Implementation Officer’s Office under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief at an estimated cost of Tk 25,79,147 in the fiscal year 2025-2026.

Due to the demands of the locals, the indifference of the authorities involved in the project, the capriciousness of the implementation committee, and the greed for money, the project has increased the suffering of the people many times over instead of bringing benefits.

Locals claim that the project, which was intended to alleviate waterlogging, improve the irrigation system, and reduce the suffering of farmers, has not only failed to bring the desired benefits, but has instead increased the suffering manifold.

According to government documents, the project’s start date was May 3, 2026, and completion was scheduled for June 10, 2026.

The project was first inaugurated on May 10, 2026, by the then Kalihati Upazila Executive Officer Md. Khairul Islam. Later, local MP Lutfar Rahman Matin inaugurated the second phase.

On June 22, the Project Implementation Committee announced the completion of the project, leaving the work incomplete.

The Kalihati Upazila Project Implementation Office said that the project was taken up with the aim of normalizing the flow of water from the local Kumursi Beel to the canal, eliminating waterlogging, developing the irrigation system, and reducing the suffering of farmers.

Without completing the excavation work of the canal, the project implementation committee hastily submitted the paper master roll bill voucher to the office of the Upazila Project Implementation Officer to withdraw the estimated total amount of the project. The then Kalihati Upazila Executive Officer Md. Khairul Islam inspected the excavation work of the canal and expressed dissatisfaction with the project work and blocked the bill.

Locals claim that the project, which was intended to alleviate waterlogging, improve the irrigation system, and reduce the suffering of farmers, has not only failed to bring the desired benefits, but has instead increased the suffering manifold.

Local residents complain that the project has failed to achieve its main objective as the work was not completed without excavating from the end of Kumarsi Beel to the designated section.

It is learnt that the Kalihati Upazila Project Implementation Authority under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has accepted the 1-kilometer canal re-excavation project being implemented from Kumarsi Beel (Kumri) near Bhiayil in Parkhi Union of Kalihati Upazila of Tangail at a cost of Tk 25,79,147.

Locals claim that the project, which was intended to alleviate waterlogging, improve the irrigation system, and reduce the suffering of farmers, has not only failed to bring the desired benefits, but has instead increased the suffering manifold.

According to government documents, the project’s start date was May 3, 2026, and completion was scheduled for June 10, 2026.

The project is chaired by Parkhi Union Parishad Panel Chairman Md. Abul Hossain. Other members of the committee are Nur Jahan, Rozina Yasmin, Jahanara Khatun, BNP leader Md. Emdadul Haque Mia and Parkhi Munir Uddin High School Principal Sanjay Kumar Chanda.

The project was first inaugurated on May 10, 2026, by the then Kalihati Upazila Executive Officer Md. Khairul Islam. Later, local MP Lutfar Rahman Matin inaugurated the second phase.

On June 22, the Project Implementation Committee announced the completion of the project, leaving the work incomplete.

The project was taken up with the aim of removing waterlogging by normalizing the flow of water from the local Kumursi Beel, improving the irrigation system and reducing the suffering of farmers. Without completing the canal excavation work, the project implementation committee hastily submitted the paper master roll bill voucher to the office of the Upazila Project Implementation Officer to withdraw the estimated total amount of the project. The then Kalihati Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Khairul Islam inspected the canal excavation work and expressed dissatisfaction with the project work and blocked the bill.

The normal flow of water in the Kal Canal has not been ensured. Local residents have alleged that the project has practically failed to achieve its main objective as the work has not been completed without excavating up to the specified section from Kumarsi Beel.

Locals complain that instead of re-excavating the canal, soil has been cut in many places like a narrow drain. According to the project estimate, the canal should be 5 to 15 feet wide and the diameter of the bottom of the canal bank should be 15 to 45 feet deep. The canal should be made 25 to 45 feet wide and 11 to 18 feet deep, and the required number of pipes (chungees) should be built for the necessary water flow, but in reality this has not been done, which has created anger among the locals. They say that due to the dams on both banks of the canal, waterlogging will occur in the surrounding areas and the cultivated crops of the cropland will be destroyed. This will harm agricultural production and farmers.

In addition, the excavation of the canal from the edge of the Kumursi Beel in Vihail to the land of Khorshed Doctor has been completed without ensuring the connection of the canal, as a result of which the flow of water from the beel to the canal is being obstructed and since the excavation work has been completed up to Khorshed’s land and the next part has not been excavated, the farmers are not benefiting from it and it is not possible to get any benefit from the project. In addition, the project committee has resorted to fraud by not excavating about 100 meters out of 1 km of the project.

Although the project was supposed to plant saplings on both sides of the canal for greening, there are allegations that a small number of low-quality saplings have been planted. Most of the saplings have already been destroyed due to lack of maintenance and the wandering of cows and goats. There are also allegations of irregularities in the recruitment of workers and payment of wages in the project. Although there is a provision to install signboards with information about the project in the project area for public awareness, it has been confirmed that the project committee has not installed any signboards to cheat the locals with work.

According to the upazila administration sources, the estimated cost of the project titled digging a 1-kilometer canal from Kumursi Beel (Kumari Beel) near Bhiyil in Parkhi Union to Khorshed Doctor’s land in Goaria village via Bhiyil is 25,79,147 taka.

According to government documents, the project’s start date was May 3, 2026, and completion was scheduled for June 10, 2026.

The project is chaired by Parkhi Union Parishad Panel Chairman Md. Abul Hossain. Other members of the committee are Nur Jahan, Rozina Yasmin, Jahanara Khatun, BNP leader Md. Emdadul Haque Mia and Parkhi Munir Uddin High School Principal Sanjay Kumar Chanda.

The project was first inaugurated on May 10, 2026 by the then Kalihati Upazila Executive Officer Md. Khairul Islam. Later, local MP Lutfar Rahman Matin inaugurated the second phase. Then on June 22, Tangail District Zia Parishad President Professor AKM Abdul Awal announced the completion of the project.

The aim of the project was to normalize the water flow of the canal and eliminate waterlogging, improve the irrigation system and reduce the suffering of farmers. But even after the completion of the work, the normal flow of water in the canal was not ensured. Locals complain that the project has failed to achieve its main objective as the work was completed without excavating up to the specified section from Kumarsi Beel.

Locals complain that instead of re-excavating the canal, soil has been cut in many places like a narrow drain. According to the project estimate, the canal should be 5 to 15 feet wide and the diameter of the bottom of the canal bank should be 15 to 45 feet deep. The canal should be made 25 to 45 feet wide and 11 to 18 feet deep, and the required number of pipes (chungees) should be built for the necessary water flow, but in reality this has not been done, which has created anger among the locals. They say that due to the dams on both banks of the canal, waterlogging will occur in the surrounding areas and the cultivated crops of the cropland will be destroyed. This will harm agricultural production and farmers.

In addition, the excavation of the canal from the edge of the Kumursi Beel in Vihail to the land of Khorshed Doctor has been completed without ensuring the connection of the canal, as a result of which the flow of water from the beel to the canal is being obstructed and since the excavation work has been completed up to Khorshed’s land and the next part has not been excavated, the farmers are not benefiting from it and it is not possible to get any benefit from the project. In addition, the project committee has resorted to fraud by not excavating about 100 meters out of 1 km of the project.

Although the project was supposed to plant saplings on both sides of the canal for greening, there are allegations that a small number of low-quality saplings have been planted. Most of the saplings have already been destroyed due to lack of maintenance and the wandering of cows and goats. There are also allegations of irregularities in the recruitment of workers and payment of wages in the project. Although there is a provision to install signboards with information about the project in the project area for public awareness, it has been confirmed that the project committee has not installed any signboards to cheat the locals with work.

However, the president of the project implementation committee, Md. Abul Hossain, denied all the allegations and said, “We tried to complete the project work in accordance with the proper rules. Some problems arose locally. Those who have land next to the canal tried to obstruct it. However, we completed the canal excavation work with everyone’s cooperation and there were no irregularities in the work.”

There is anger in the area over the alleged wastage and embezzlement of government funds in nine of the Prime Minister’s priority projects. They have demanded a speedy investigation to ensure proper use of the project funds and action against those responsible.