Construction of the pre-stressed girder bridge over river Kumar on Bittipara Hat-Zamzami via Jhowdia road of Sadar Upazila under the ‘Rural Infrastructure Development Project’ in Kushtia has not been completed even after 4 years. The construction of the 81 meter long bridge at an estimated cost of 7 crore 25 lakhs started in March 2021 for a period of two years or 24 months. Although the scheduled period ended in February 2023, the project was suspended because the contractor of the project, which was being implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department LGED, ran away from work. For the past 4 years, hundreds of thousands of people in the agricultural main areas who are the beneficiaries of this bridge have suffered immensely. Also, the only connecting road of Kushtia Sadar Upazila with Harinakundu and Alamdanga Upazilas is closed for traffic. The victims alleged negligence and gross negligence on the part of LGED and contractors. Locals demand that the construction of the bridge be completed quickly. However, rejecting the complaint, the executive engineer of LGED said that the construction of the bridge will be completed soon and it will be opened for public traffic. According to the Kushtia Sadar Upazila Engineer’s office, in November 2020, an order was given to construct a 25 km long bridge over the Ganga Kapotaksha Irrigation Project (GK) canal in Ujangram area from Bittipara on Kushtia Alamdanga Road to Jhowdia Bazar. The cost of this bridge has been estimated at 92 lakh 38 thousand taka. The construction of the bridge, which received the work order on November 3 of the same year, is scheduled to be completed on November 4, 2021. Even though the scheduled time has passed, only 25 to 30% of the work has been done. Construction of another 81 meter long bridge over the river Kumar on the same road was ordered just one km away from that bridge. The cost of this bridge has been estimated at 7 crore 25 lakhs. But only about 30% of the work has been done. Only a few pillars are visible. MNM & SE (JV), a joint venture company of Pabna district, was awarded the construction of the two bridges. The owner of this contractor is Nuruzzaman Miah of Kashinathpur area of ​​Bara Upazila in Pabna. LGED has also extended the period of work on the request of the contractor. It didn’t work after that. Later, when another contractor was given the task of constructing the bridge, he also ran away without doing the work, it has been alleged. Locals claim that the ongoing project has been suspended for a long time and that it has become difficult to carry agricultural products and suffering without limits. They demand to complete the construction of the bridge as soon as possible and repair the road for normal traffic. Zarina Khatun (55), a local resident near the bridge, complained that this work started 4 years ago. But as you can see, Eddie has become a pain in my throat. It is my request that the government should immediately release the money. In their response, the residents of Ujangram area said that there is no one to care for the people of Ga village. The bridge over the Ganges has not been completed for 4 years. What is the problem and what is the solution for it? The drivers traveling in the same way said, Kam Katti Katti Addek Kairi Fala Thuy Chili has been left. I have been suffering for so long. If the bridge is done, we will live. Sheikh Md. Subhin Akhtar, representative of Kushtia District Conscious Mahal, said that the roads, bridges, culverts and infrastructure construction projects under construction in Kushtia have been hanging for a long time due to various irregularities and neglect. Subject to the allocation of necessary funds, the journey of project implementation has started with all the preparations and capabilities, but these pending projects are increasing the cost on the one hand and on the other hand, the normal movement is disrupted and the suffering is prolonged. If this is the real picture, then is the situation changing at all by these monthly meetings? President of Conscious Citizen Committee Sanak, freedom fighter Rafiqul Alam Tuku reacted and said that if there is proof of irresponsibility of the project related official for creating this situation, he should be punished with accountability. Even after allocating money to the government for the implementation of the sustainable development process, why will there be such public suffering, either they are negligent or they are incompetent. He expressed this reaction in the development coordination meeting. He also said that local member of parliament Mahbub ul Alam Hanif has expressed extreme dissatisfaction by attending the last development coordination meeting. In this regard, Md. Abdur Razzak, Executive Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department, LGED Kushtia, said that the construction work of the 81-meter long bridge under construction over the Kumar river on the Ujangram-Jhowdia road was closed for a few days, but it will be completed as soon as possible.
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