Use of substandard materials sparks protest

Local people of four villages held a rally and formed a human chain at 8 no Bosti village in Juri upazila yesterday, protesting use of substandard materials in construction of one-km-long Bottola-Shilghat road. 

The villages are Dhamai, 8 no Bosti, Malipara and Durbintila.

A few days after completion of the construction work in October 2018, several potholes have developed on the road connecting the upazila headquarters, said locals.

The villagers alleged that low quality bricks and substandard materials were used in construction of the road. 

They also demanded exemplary punishment of the contractor concerned.

Upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Assistant Executive Engineer Ahidul Islam said contractor Sanjit Das of Barlekha upazila got Tk 60 lakh work order to construct the one-km-long and eight-metre-wide road at 8 no Bosti village.

The road construction work was started on May 2018 and it was completed in October the same year, he said.

Rickshaw puller Mohammad Humayun said they pull rickshaw amid risk of accidents as the road lies in awful state for long.

Bijoy Rudra Paul, president of Shapnakuri Samaj Kaylan Sangstha in the area, said several potholes have developed at least eight points of the newly constructed road.

The road has become vulnerable as the contractor used low quality materials for constructing it, he said.

Despite repeated pleas, the LGED officials are yet to take any steps to reconstruct the road, said Bijoy.

Biresh Rudra Paul, headmaster of Huson Ali High School in Juri, said everyday around 200 students use this road amid risk of accident.

Contractor Sanjit Das said the guide wall of the road collapsed due to loosening of soil under the wall.

“We will repair the damaged portion of the road and the guide wall at our own expense,” said Sanjit Das.

Juri upazila LGED Engineer Abdul Matin said the contractor assured them that he will repair the damaged portion of the road.