Locality, school under threat as embankment collapses
An ancient neighbourhood of ethnic Marma community along with Amtali Para Government Primary School in Bandarban Sadar upazila is under threat of erosion by the Sualok canal as an embankment built with concrete blocks in June this year has started collapsing.
“We are living amid fear as the erosion has taken a serious turn,” said Aung Kyaw Ching Marma, 50, a resident of Amtali Marma Para.
Around 130 families live in the neighbourhood, said Cha Ba Thui Marma, a local journalist hailing from the area.
Amtali Para Government Primary School, currently enrolling 127 students, is now under serious threat of erosion, said Mong Hla Marma, headmaster of the school.
Locals alleged that the contractor, who is a ruling party man, used sub-standard materials in the embankment by managing the engineer of Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED).
Contacted, Jamal Uddin, Sadar upazila engineer of LGED, denied the allegation and said “We directed the contractor to repair the damaged parts. We implemented the project in June this year at a cost of around Tk 1.52 crore.”
The contractor, Nazmul Bhuiyan, former president of Chhatra League’s Bandarban College unit, said, “The concrete blocks subsided due to incessant rain. I have already started work to repair the collapsed portion of the embankment.”
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