SM Sumon Rashid:
It has been alleged that low-quality construction materials have been used in the construction of 4,300 meters of road from Khuriar Kheaghat to Dhankhali GC in Amtali Upazila. Locals have complained that contractors Shahidul Islam Mridha and Shahin Talukder are doing this low-quality work. The Upazila Engineering Department is not taking action against the contractor’s low-quality work despite knowing it. Locals claim that this road will not last long. The government will lose crores of taka. Locals have demanded that action be taken against this immediately.
It has been reported that 4,300 meters of road from Khuriar Kheaghat to Dhankhali GC road in Sadar Union of Amtali Upazila. The Barguna Executive Engineering Department invited tenders for the construction of this road. 3 crore 4 lakh 95 thousand 594 taka was allocated for the work. The tender for the work was held on December 21, 2023. Barendra Contracting Company got the job. The work was supposed to be completed on April 21, 2024. But the contractor abandoned the work of some parts of the road in June last year. The contractor did not work even after the work period of eight months had passed. He started the work last December. Locals alleged that the contractor started the work with low-quality gravel and stones in the beginning. Locals further alleged that contractors Shahin Talukder and Shahidul Islam Mridha are working with low-quality construction materials. The contractors did not provide the width and depth of the road as per the tender. Although this matter was reported to the Upazila Engineer’s Office, they are not taking any effective action. In the meantime, the Upazila Engineer’s Office has waived the bill for one installment of the work.
It was found on the spot that the contractor’s people are working with low-quality gravel.
Locals Bachchu Mia and Kamal Hossain said that the contractor has built the road with low-quality gravel. This road will not last long. The government will lose crores of taka. They demanded action against the contractor. They also said that they demand the removal of low-quality construction materials for sustainable road construction and the re-construction of the road.
Motorcyclist Nazrul Islam said that the construction materials used by the contractor for the road work are nothing but a waste of government money.
Contractor Shahin Talukder denied working with low-quality construction materials and said that we have already completed the work of 2,100 meters of the road. We will start the remaining work soon. He also said that even though the upazila engineer has discounted the work bill, we have not been able to collect it yet.
Amtoli Upazila Engineer Md. Idris Ali said that the bill for the work done by the contractor has been discounted.
Barguna Executive Engineer Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan said that if the contractor works, he will have to discount the bill. However, it was found that the contractor used low-quality construction materials in some places on the road and the low-quality materials were changed after inspection.
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