Natore-Bogura highway: another name for suffering
The work to widen the busy Natore-Bogura highway was scheduled to be completed in December 2021. Later, it was extended to June 30, 2022.
But till date, only 50 percent of the work has been completed.
As a result, hundreds of people using the highway every day, which connects Khulna and Barishal with North Bengal, continue to suffer.
Tailbacks, potholes, dust flying around and vehicles getting dysfunctional have become a common scenario on the 62-km highway, of which 31km falls in Natore and the rest in Bogura.
Roads and Highways Department (RHD) sources said the work to increase the width of 6.3 kilometres of the highway from 18 feet to 34 feet started in June 2020.
Mir Habibul Islam Builders and Rana Builders got the contract for the project, which is worth Tk 81 crore. Besides, they were supposed to construct four lanes on 3.2 kilometres of the highway.
The estimated cost of the entire project is Tk 740 crore.
This isn't only a story about the slow progression of work.
Last year, an investigative officer of the Police Bureau of Investigation framed charges against the contractors following a local court order on charges of cutting soil from the side of the road.
The trial of the court began at the court of additional chief judicial magistrate. However, the contractors filed a revision appeal against it. The case was then dismissed by the court district and sessions judge.
Two sub-assistant engineers of RHD were also transferred over various allegations surrounding the project.
Ronen Roy, president of Sochetan Nagorik Committee Natore, said after the court took up the case, the contractor and RHD officials were left reeling. The work was stopped for a long time. After it restarted, it has been progressing at a snail's pace.
Supreme Court lawyer Shihab Uddin Khan said it was proved that they illegally cut soil. They should be punished.
Denying his involvement in anything illegal, contractor Mir Habibul Alam alias Bakhtiar claimed that the work is being delayed due to an increase in the price of construction materials.. He added that he will apply for a time extension again.
Abdur Rahim, executive engineer of RHD in Natore, said, "People are suffering because the contractor did not complete the work on time. Therefore, I have recommended the project manager to cancel the contract with the contractors."
Md Sadekul Islam, director of Natore-Bogra highway widening project, said a letter has been sent to cancel the contracts.
Contacted, local lawmaker Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT, said, "The people are suffering because the road work is not done on time. RHD is also negligent. I will direct the chief engineer to cancel the contracts of the contractors concerned and blacklist them."