Contractors stop govt project work in Kishoreganj

Abnormal price hike of construction materials in last few weeks has stopped works under Kishoreganj Public Works Department (PDB) and Education and Engineering Department (EED).
Sources in the two offices said contractors have stopped all works, rendering hundreds of workers jobless.
Executive engineer Md. Abdur Razzak of Kishoreganj EED said contractors of 41 under-construction buildings of different government and non government schools and colleges in different upazilas left their construction works as prices of construction materials are more than doubled the government fixed prices.
Executive engineer Habibur Rahman of Kishoreganj PWD said 10 work orders were given to contractors this year but none of them started construction work due to sudden abnormal price hike of rod.
Sources at both EED and PWD offices said contractors stopped work as price of per kg rod rose from Tk 42 to Tk 67 in the market in last few weeks.
EED office sources said government price of per ton rod including value added tax (VAT), road binding charge, carrying and other expenses was fixed at Tk 39,000 but it now costs Tk 82,000 including VAT and other expenses. The price is more than double, he said.
PWD office sources said the office issued over 10 work orders but none of the contractors started work. These include construction of new buildings on the compound of Kishoreganj Sadar Hospital.
Executive Eengineer Habibur Rahman of Kishoreganj PWD said construction works of academic building and staff quarters of long cherished Kishoreganj Nursing Institute at a cost of Tk over 5 crore could not be started. Construction of 250-bed Kishorehanj Sadar Adhonik Hospital building and staff quarters involving Tk 6 crore is yet to start after issuance of work order early this year.
Same is the case with construction of academic building of Textile Vocational Institute involving Tk 2 crore. The work order was given on March 9, PWD office sources said.
Academic activities are greatly hampered in 41 institutions including government and non-government ones at different upazilas as contractors left those undone due to high price of rod.
If construction of the 41 institutions can not be completed before the upcoming monsoon, academic activities would be greatly hampered, EED office sources said.
When contacted, some of the contractors said they have nothing to do as abnormal price hike of construction materials has pushed the cost up but the budget remains the same.