There have been allegations in the construction of Tk. 62 lakh iron bridge on Chandrapara canal in Sultanabad -Chandrapara road under Nazirpur union of Bauphal upazila under Patuakhali district. Local people complained low quality, rusty iron rods and beams are being used for the construction of the bridge.
According to Upazila LGED Office sources, a project for the reconstruction of 3.7 metre broad and 27 metre long iron bridge on Chandrapara canal has been taken up. Messers Roza and Saum Enterprise of Patuakhali got the work order of the bridge construction at a cost of Tk 62,37,950 on January 25, 2024. By violating the contract of the works, Messers Roza and Saum Enterprise have allegedly sold the works to a sub-contractor.
Local residents and the labourers engaged in the reconstruction of the bridge informed, old iron beams, posts and other rusty, old iron materials are being used for the construction works. Sub-contractors local Jubo League leader Orobindu Das and Assistant Teacher of Bauphal Daspara Model Primary School were conducting the works by colouring the old, rusty iron materials. They are learnt to purchase those old iron materials from the Trash Shops in Barishal.
At the construction site, six to seven labourers were seen to fix those old iron pillars under the soil manually, without the help of any machines. Local people have expressed their anger for not conducting the work of the bridge according to the schedule and are questioning the bridge's longevity. The temporary wooden pedestrian bridge constructed beside the under-construction bride at a cost of Taka 43,813 is also highly vulnerable and risky for the movement of the people.
Local residents Tarikul and Sakib informed the government money is being plundered in the construction of the bridge by using old, rusty iron materials.
While commenting on the irregularities in the construction of the bridge, Sub-contractor Sobuj said, he was not involved with the work. Another Subcontractor Orobindu Das informed the works are being done according to the schedule and there was no irregularity in the construction work.
ABM Humayun, Upazila Sub-Assistant Engineer of LGED informed new iron posts are not available that is the old ones are being used. He claimed all other materials were new. He, however, refused to comment on other old, rusty materials being used for the construction works of the bridge. Upazila LGED Engineer Manik Hossain said, he was unaware of the incident and would take action in this regard after investigation.