Waliullah Emran, Barguna

The people of Taltali upazila in Barguna have erupted in protest against corruption, irregularities, and the use of substandard materials in the name of development. Despite repeated allegations, low-quality bricks and construction materials continue to be used in the development work of the TNT Road in the upazila.

The entire area echoed with slogans like “No adulteration with public money,” “Punish the corrupt,” and “Taltali will not be a safe haven for corruption” as locals expressed their outrage.

On Monday , angry residents held a massive protest rally and human chain around noon at the TNT intersection, raising serious questions about the role of the administration.

Dhiren Chandra, a protesting local resident and TV mechanic, said, “This road is deeply tied to our lives. But now, even the slightest pressure turns the bricks into powder! This isn’t development—this is a shameless mockery of the people. It proves that corruption is running rampant under the guise of development.”

Driver Sona Mia added, “If this road breaks down, we’ll be traveling every day at the risk of our lives. School-going children, the sick—everyone will suffer. Those responsible for this work are enemies of the people.”

Protesters alleged that a nexus between the contractor and certain corrupt engineering officials is behind this farcical construction. “Despite repeated complaints, nothing has been done. The administration seems blind—or perhaps deliberately silent,” they said.

Young social activist Russel Hasan warned, “This 2,300-meter project has a budget of Tk 1.61 crore. They’re trying to rush it using substandard materials, backed by a syndicate. We won’t stay silent any longer. If the investigation is biased, we will lay siege to the upazila office. This is a war against corruption.”

Upazila Engineer Sakhawat Hossain stated, “We issued a notice yesterday to the contractor—Sagar Enterprise of Barguna—to remove the substandard bricks. Action will be taken if they do not comply.”

However, residents are not satisfied with this response. “A notice is not enough—now is the time for legal action. The people’s patience is wearing thin. We will no longer tolerate fraud in the name of development,” they said. Locals further alleged that the upazila office authorities are complicit. “Now they’ll try to pin all the blame on the contractor to save themselves. But whether it’s the engineer or the contractor, the message from Taltali is clear—there must be accountability for corruption. If necessary, the entire road will resonate with the slogans of the people. There will be no leniency for the corrupt.”

Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan, Executive Engineer of Barguna LGED, said, “I am aware of the situation on Taltali's TNT Road. Our team visited the site. Some bad bricks were mixed in with good ones. Those have been removed. We want the work to be transparent. If we receive further negative reports, we will take strict action.”