Extortionists stop bridge work

Construction work of Matlab Mofazzol Hossain Maya (Bir Bikram) bridge has been stopped since Wednesday morning as a group of Jubo League activists and a ward councillor demanded money from the construction firm. The authorities of the construction firm, Rana Builders, alleged that they were setting up girders of the Bridge at Baishpur Matlab South and Matlab North upazilas and dumping sand on the approach road when local Jubo League activists and Abul Bashar Parvez, councillor of Ward No-1 of Matlab union, demanded money and threatened to stop the work if it was not given. The firm stopped the work and left with their equipments. Md Alam, owner of the construction firm, said they started the work, estimated Tk 84.60 crore, in October 2015, and have completed 60 percent in the last six months. Rejecting the allegation, Abul Bashar said he is supplying sand for the work and has delivered sand worth around Tk 80 lakhs. But the owner of the firm has not paid Tk 27 lakhs, so he (Bashar) is asking for that money. Subroto Dutta, executive engineer of Chandpur Roads and Highways Department, said he does not know about the matter.