Two government agencies have submitted tenders for the construction of a bridge at the same place at Pirganj upazila in Rangpur. Two contractors have also received work orders after submitting the tenders. As a result, there are complications and conflicts in performing the work. The locals consider the tender between the two companies for the construction of the bridge at the same place as madness of the two departments. However, the PIO (Project Implementation Officer) of the upazila and the Deputy Assistant Engineer of BADC have given contradictory statements regarding the construction of the bridge.
It is learned that in the last 2016-2017 financial year, the Upazila Relief and Rehabilitation Office (PIO) invited tenders for the construction of a bridge over Domjana canal at Hasanpur Jummapara in Mithipur union with an allocation of around Tk 57 lakh. But as there is no connecting road, the allocated money is returned. Later, when the PIO office constructed the connecting road, the Department of Relief and Disaster Management again called for tenders for the construction of the bridge in FY 2021-2022. On February 9, a contractor got the job after the department invited tenders for the construction of a bridge with an allocation of around Tk 67 lakh under the '15 meter long bridge / culvert construction project on rural roads'. On February 20, the project director inaugurated the construction of the bridge via video conference. Then the contractor started the construction work by pulling the signboard.
On the other hand, BADC-Irrigation (Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation) has given the responsibility of construction work to another contractor through tender for construction of bridge at the same place with an allocation of Tk 62 lakh. BADC's contractor also took the excavator to the project area last Sunday night to build the bridge. The PIO office and the BADC are pulling the strings from that point. Locals said the PIO office has been working for several years to build the bridge. They have also built connecting roads on both sides. The bridge is to be built by them. But here two organizations have called for tenders for the same work. PIO Mizanur Rahman said the project to build the bridge was taken up in 2016 in consultation with the villagers including Mithipur Union Chairman SM Faruk Ahmed and local Awami League leaders. He went to the spot on Monday night after getting the news that BADC's contractor had been brought an excavator to the spot late on Sunday night. Deputy Assistant Engineer from BADC also went there. Although we are supposed to do the bridge, BADC is trying to work by suddenly inviting tenders. He also said that the matter has been reported to the higher authorities.
Rubel Mia, Deputy Assistant Engineer, BADC, said, "We have been awarded the contract for the construction of the bridge. We will build a bridge at that place.”