Chilmari (Kurigram) Correspondent

There have been various questions in the public mind regarding the slow pace of the river port construction project on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Chilmari, Kurigram.

It is learnt that only 20% of the 3 events have been completed even after 3 and a half years of the start of the work. There has been pent-up anger among the locals over the progress and quality of the work.

It is learnt that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has allocated an allocation for the river port construction project in the Chilmari area (Ramna, Jorgach, Rajibpur, Roumari, Nayarhat). The implementation period of which is from July 2021 to December 2025 and the estimated cost of the project is 235 crore 59 lakh taka. Later, it was increased by another 100 crore taka to 335 kt 59 lakh taka.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, RADP allocated 32 crore taka, which is ongoing in phases. Even though 3 and a half years have passed since the start of the work, out of the 10-15 components of the project, the work of river bank conservation, RCC jetty construction and various buildings has been started so far. Which is progressing at a very slow pace. The estimated cost of the three components of the ongoing project is about 100 crore taka, of which only 20% has been completed. The slow pace of the work and only 20% progress with only 11 months left before the end of the period. This has created pent-up anger among the locals.

On the spot, on Wednesday afternoon, it was seen that 15-20 workers were working at the construction site of the upazila's river port terminal building and river bank conservation. The slow pace of the work has raised various questions among the locals. At this time, many commented that the contractors and the people in charge of BIWTA are working at a slow pace as they please. They think that there is doubt about the future of the work.

Deputy Assistant Engineer Daud Islam, who is in charge of the river port construction project, said that 20% progress has been made in the work of the three components of the port construction project. Work is ongoing.

Chilmari River Port Construction Project Project Director and BIWTA Executive Engineer Md. Abul Kalam Azad Molla said that of the three ongoing works, 8% of the jetty, about 40% of the riverbank conservation and about 35% of the building construction have been completed.

Regarding the slow pace of work, he said that the work was slow due to the lack of land acquisition work and the delay in DPP approval. We think that the project work can be completed by June 27.