Under construction bldg for ICT training develops cracks

The under construction building of Dimla upazila ICT Training and Resource Centre in Nilphamari district developed cracks allegedly due to faulty construction work. PHOTO: STAR

Under construction building of 'Upazila ICT Training and Resource Centre for Education (UTRCE)' in Dimla upazila under the district developed serious cracks, prompting the upazila nirbahi officer to direct the official of the construction firm concerned to strictly follow project schedule.

Two-storied UTRCEs, with 205-square metre area on each floor, are being constructed in 128 upazilas across the country, with financial support of Korea Exim Bank and the Government of Bangladesh, and BANBEIS, Ministry of Education, is implementing the $27 million project.

The work for UTRCE building in Dimla upazila started in June last year. Scheduled to be handed over by May 31 this year, it is yet to be complete.

Visiting the site on Sunday, this correspondent saw 7-8 workers doing plaster on walls and sanitary fitting works but no official of the contractors concerned was present there.

Two one to two inches wide cracks, each 7-8 feet long and about 18 inches apart, developed at lower part of the ground floor's south wall attached to the foundation as soil subsided in heavy rain.

Local trader Russel Hossain said cracks developed as the foundation soil was not compressed properly and low quality materials were used for the wall, in absence of proper monitoring.

Dimla upazila education officer Ahsan Habib said, "It is a matter of worry that cracks developed in the UTRCE building. No official of the contractor met me to brief about work's development since I joined here around five months ago although I am the authority to receive the building after its completion."

Md Shafiullah, site engineer of a construction firm claimed that the building work was done as per project design and planning.