Ullapara (Sirajganj) Correspondent

In the construction of Upazila Model Mosque and Islamic Education Center in Ullapara of Sirajganj, various irregularities, corruption and use of low-quality construction materials in the pillars of the main building found and all the pillars were tilted before the roof was cast.

Following the verbal complaints of local residents, the Deputy Commissioner, Sirajganj visited the spot on Thursday morning. After the inspection Md. Tofazzal Hossain, Deputy Director, Local Government Department formed an investigation committee of 5 (five) members. He said that this committee will submit the investigation report within the next 7 (seven) working days.

It is known that model mosques and Islamic education centers are being constructed in each upazila at a cost of 11 crores 69 lakhs 34 thousand 8 hundred 42 taka 88 paisa from the personal funds of the Prime Minister.

On June 13, 2019, the contract of Public Works Department was signed with Dhaka's contracting company First SS Construction Pvt Ltd. After the contract, the contractor First SS Construction Pvt Ltd has lifted only half of the pillars by base casting in the last 3 years.

Most of the pillar construction is done using crooked and substandard construction materials. Contractors try to fill the pillars with quick sand to hide the said faulty work. Later on the sides of the mosque, holes were made for casting and pillars. The bent and leaning pillars emerge as the soil moves away from the sides of the pillars due to rain. Seeing this situation, the local people verbally informed the Deputy Commissioner about the corruption in the model mosque.

Eyewitnesses said that due to the error in the base casting, the pillars were tilted due to the rain before the gadara was cast due to the pressure of the sand. A few days ago, due to the rain, the soil moved from the side of the pillar, and the pillar's bent and leaning condition came out. Then the matter came to the attention of the local people.

Residents recorded the matter on their mobile phones and informed Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Mir Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Ujjal Hossain about the matter.

In view of that, Sirajganj DC and Ullapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Sirajganj Public Works Department officials visited the scene at around 11 o'clock on Thursday.

At that time, Md Jahedul Hasan, Sub-Divisional Engineer of Sirajganj Public Works Department and other officials were present.