Use of low quality materials sparks protest

Local people in Juri upazila yesterday staged a demonstration and brought out a rally, protesting use of substandard materials in construction of the main gate of Lathitila Government Primary School.

A large chunk of plaster of the under construction school gate collapsed while its construction was going on yesterday.

Protesting use of low quality materials by the contractor concern, local residents held a demonstration, bringing allegation of corruption against the callous contractor and also demolished the plaster of the main gate.

Locals alleged that the incident occurred as low-grade bricks and substandard materials were used in the construction.

They also demanded exemplary punishment of the contractor concerned.

Earlier, the protesters brought out a rally that paraded the main roads of the upazila headquarters before ending at Lathitila Bazar.

According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Tk 30 lakh was allocated for building boundary walls and main gates of two schools.

One of the school managing committee members Sirajul Islam said local construction farm Mahim Construction got the work order of the construction.

Although construction of the main gate of Lathitila Government Primary School started about three months ago, there was allegation of corruption from the beginning.

Khurshed Alam of Lathitila village said if the school remained open yesterday students might have suffered fatal injuries.

One of the construction labourers, seeking anonymity, said they used low quality bricks and substandard materials after getting instruction from Noman Ahmed, owner of Mahim Construction.

Despite repeated attempts, this correspondent could not reach Noman for his comment.