Jhalakathi District Correspondent:
There have been allegations of irregularities in the LGED’s road renovation work worth Tk 35 lakh in Rajapur, Jhalakathi. Locals have alleged that less bitumen was provided and low-quality construction materials were used in the renovation of 19,200 meters of road on the western side of Katakhali Bridge in Galua Union of the upazila. A Jhalakathi contractor named Siam Traders is implementing the work.
After going to the spot and talking to the locals, it was learned that in various parts of the road, low-quality brick chips have been used and carpeting has been done with less bitumen. Despite such low-quality work on the road, the concerned authorities have not taken any action and are instead defending the contractor. This has created extreme anger among the locals.
Locals have been objecting to the quality of work since the beginning. The road will be damaged within a short time of construction due to the use of low-quality construction materials such as bricks, adobe and stone, haphazard carpeting, not using the right amount of bitumen and working in adverse weather conditions.
Mahmudur Rahman of Jhalakathi, the contractor of the work, said that the road is a work of LGED’s GOV Maintenance. 35 lakh taka has been allocated for the 19,200 feet work. The stimit is 25 ml but it is being given in 27 ml increments, so that the name is reduced later. The work is being done properly according to the rules, the work is being done even though it is thought that there will be a loss, otherwise there will be problems with the license. Some local people are also asking for money, they are complaining and harassing him for not giving it.
Ujjal Hossain, a work assistant at the Rajapur LGED office, who is in charge of overseeing the construction work, said, “I can’t say anything about the use of low-quality brick kilns because the engineer sir has taken all the decisions. He is just supervising the ongoing work.”
Rajapur Upazila LGED Engineer Abhijit Mondal said that if there are any irregularities in the work, an investigation will be conducted and action will be taken.
Jhalakathi District LGED Executive Engineer Md. Shahidul Islam Sarkar said, after receiving a verbal complaint that the road work was going badly, I immediately informed the Upazila Engineer and asked him to go and check the site. I have also sent another senior officer with him. So far, the contractor has not been paid a single taka. I will investigate the complaint and not pay any bill before that. If the work is not done in the right manner, he will not get the bill.
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