Allegations of Irregularities in Road Construction, Newly Constructed Road Collapses into Canal Before Completion.

Amtoli, Barguna Correspondent. Vehicle movement halted as a section of the road collapses into a canal Amtali (Barguna) Correspondent A section of approximately 200 metres of the Amtali–Gazipur regional road in the Kalibari area of Amtali Upazila collapsed into the Chalitabunia Canal on Friday, allegedly due to irregularities in the construction work. As a result, vehicular movement along the road has been suspended, causing severe hardship to several thousand people who regularly use the route. Local residents have alleged that the situation occurred because the contractor failed to follow the terms of the work order, used substandard construction materials and committed various irregularities during the project. They have demanded a prompt investigation and action against the contractor and the officials responsible for supervising the work. Chawra Union Parishad Chairman of Amtali Upazila, Md. Akhteruzzaman Badal Khan, acknowledged that the road had collapsed into the canal. He said, “The road has fallen into the canal. Write whatever you can. Let us see what happens. According to sources, the Amtali–Gazipur regional road is 15 kilometres long. In the 2023–24 fiscal year, the Barguna Executive Engineer’s Office invited tenders for the expansion and reconstruction of a five-kilometre section from Amtali Kalibari to Talukdar Bazar. The project, costing Tk 5 crore, was awarded to a Rajshahi-based contracting firm named Barendra Construction. The work was reportedly subcontracted to Md. Akhteruzzaman Badal Khan, chairman of Chawra Union Parishad and joint general secretary of the then Amtali Upazila Awami League. Local residents alleged that, using his influence at the time, Badal Khan left the road construction work unfinished. He reportedly resumed the work after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, following pressure from various quarters. Residents further alleged that irregularities began from the very start of the construction work. They claimed that substandard construction materials were used and that the contractor did not follow the specifications and terms of the work order during the road expansion. According to local residents Saiful Islam and Babul, they had repeatedly informed Barguna Executive Engineer Mehedi Hasan and Amtali Upazila Engineer Md. Idris Ali about the alleged irregularities, but no action was taken. Local residents alleged that because of the contractor’s irregularities, several sections of the road began collapsing even before the work was completed. On Saturday morning, approximately 200 metres of the road in the Kalibari area collapsed into the Chalitabunia Canal. Several trees also fell onto the road, bringing vehicular movement to a halt. After receiving the news, Senior Assistant Engineer of Barguna LGED, Shyamal Kumar Gain, visited the site on Saturday afternoon. A visit to the Kalibari and Patakata areas of the Amtali–Gazipur regional road on Saturday found that around 200 metres of the road at two separate locations had collapsed into the canal. The collapse before completion of the project has sparked strong criticism among local residents regarding the quality of the construction work. With the road falling into the canal, vehicular movement has been suspended. Md. Mehedi Zaman Rakib, joint convener of the Amtali Upazila Jubo Dal, said, The contractor used substandard construction materials and committed serious irregularities, which caused approximately 200 metres of the road to collapse into the Chalitabunia Canal. We informed the concerned authorities several times about the irregularities in the contractor’s work, but they did not take any action. A prompt investigation should be conducted and appropriate action should be taken regarding the irregularities. Amtali Upazila Engineer Md. Idris Ali said, We are investigating the collapse of the road into the canal. An expert team will visit the site to determine the actual cause of the collapse. Senior Assistant Engineer of Barguna LGED, Shyamal Kumar Gain, said, After receiving the information, I visited the site. We are trying to determine the actual cause of the road collapse. The allegations of irregularities by the contractor are also being investigated strictly.