Road work stopped for using 'substandard' materials

Local people stopped construction work of a road at Fulgachhi village in Sadar upazila on Wednesday, protesting use of substandard materials.

The villagers also demanded to complete construction of the 500-metre road under Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), otherwise they will continue the protest.

Contractor Golam Mostafa got the work order of Tk 29 lakh and started the construction work in January this year, said Lalmonirhat LGED Section Officer Moniruzzaman.

During a visit, this correspondent saw low quality materials were used in the construction work.

Benzir Islam, a resident of the village, alleged that the contractor in unison with some unscrupulous officials of LGED used substandard materials like third class bricks and brick chips in the road construction work.

“As we protested the use of low quality materials in the construction, the contractor threatened to file case against us,” said Benzir.

Another villager Ali Hossain said if the road is carpeted in such standard, it will be damaged within a year.

Refuting the allegation, the LGED official said he is supervising the work but did not find any substandard materials used in the road construction.

Contractor Mostofa refuted the allegation of making threat of filing any case against the villagers.

The construction workers may use low quality bricks in the construction work at some places and those will be removed, he said.

Upazila LGED Engineer Shah Obaidur Rahman said he will visit the site soon and if it is found that substandard materials were used in the construction work, the contractor will not be given payment.

The road will be constructed, using standard materials as per schedule, he assured.