Kurigram Border: Road work suspended due to BSF opposition

The work of widening of a road has remained suspended due to objection from the Indian Border Security Force along Phulbari border in Kurigram, said an RHD executive engineer.

As the development work remains stopped, locals are suffering immensely. They demanded immediate completion of the work.

Of the 19km Phulbari-Nageshwari road, around 750 metres near Jummapara Bazar area, 2km away from Phulbari upazila town, is being disputed.

Members of Kurshahat BSF camp of the 38 BSF Battalion in Cooch Behar district of India opposed the widening work and asked the contractor to stop the work two weeks ago.

The Roads and Highways Department of Kurigram says it has started widening 19km of the road from Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge intersection of Shimulbari union in Phulbari upazila to Nageshwari municipality's college intersection at a cost of Tk 55 crore.

Construction firm OTBL won the work order.

Rasel Islam, sub-divisional engineer of the firm, told The Daily Star that they suspended work on the 750 metres stretch due to opposition from the BSF.

However, work is going on on the rest of 19km road.

The work on the 750 metres will be completed soon with permission from the authorities concerned, he said.

Zahirul Islam, RHD executive engineer in Kurigram, told this correspondent that higher authorities have been informed of the matter. If the authorities of Border Guard Bangladesh give permission, the contractor will be allowed to work there. The BGB is being contacted regularly about it, he said.

According to the international border law, no infrastructures can be built within 150 yards of the border. Since the 750 metres of the road are within 150 yards of the border, the BSF opposed the widening work of the road, said Lt Col SM Touhidul Alam, commanding officer of BGB 15 Battalion in Lalmonirhat.

He, however, said construction of infrastructures can be allowed if both sides agree.

The BGB official added that meetings and discussions were underway with BSF. It will be resolved soon, he hoped.

Local Nazar Ali, 65, said they were suffering as the work stopped midway. He demanded completion of the work fast.