Zskir Azad, Cumilla

The contractors are on the run. The development works of Cumilla city are at a standstill. The infrastructural development work of Cumilla City Corporation has stalled as the contractors started the road-drain culvert works in the busiest populated areas of the city and left them midway.

These works have now become a cause of suffering for the common citizens. Citizens are expressing their anger as the normal traffic and drainage system are hampered.

Those concerned say that most of the contractors of the City Corporation were leaders or supporters of Awami League, which is why the development works have stopped after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 due to the cover up of many contractors.

The City Corporation authorities say that there is a provision to take legal action against the contractor if he fails to complete the work on time. Some tasks arise on their own According to sources of Cumilla City Corporation, currently work of 478 crore taka is ongoing in Cumilla City Corporation in the fiscal year 2023-24 out of 1 thousand 538 crore taka. Some of these parts are complete but most of them are incomplete. Due to the collapse of the Awami League government and the flood, the city's development works have almost come to a standstill.

According to sources in the engineering department of the corporation, 155 km of road work has been completed out of 305.14 km of new road construction work in public works. 45 km work is still going on. In other words, the work of another 105 km road has not started yet. On the other hand, out of 203.09 km RCC drain construction work, 100 km has been completed, 50 km is in progress. That means another 53 km work has not started yet. Teacher Abdul Hakim, a resident of Cumilla Shassangacha area, said that development work has been stopped in many places in Cumilla city.

The work on the court road started a long time ago but has not been completed. The top cover of the road has been removed and left for a long time, now large ditches have been created. This road is now impassable. There are many places where the road widening works are not being done. No one knows when these works will be completed. Journalist Salim Reza Munshi, a resident of Mughaltuli area of the city, said that the road side drain work behind Cumilla High School has been going on for a long time. In the meantime, the local residents have been suffering from waterlogging and moving mud for this construction work during the monsoon season. Residents are suffering because of this work.

We want this to be done quickly. Cumilla City Corporation Executive Engineer Abu Sayed said that the works which were supposed to be completed in the fiscal year 2022-24 will legally get time through the revised DPP till the fiscal year 2024-25. Time has been sought to complete the works stalled due to various obstacles. Due to the change in political status, the work is going on at a slow pace. We have officially taken the initiative to complete the work on Kandirpar to Rani Bazarmukhi road, Faujdari to Adalat and the front part of Racecourse flyover within the next one month.

It has been reported that most of the contractors have neglected the development work of Cumilla City Corporation (CCC). After August 5, only 5%-30% completed the work, they went into hiding without taking the bill. Even though the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had invited tenders for two separate projects before August 5, re-tenders were invited after the contractor did not match.

Another project of JICA is also said to be stalled. Several officials of Cumilla City Corporation, who did not want to reveal their names, said that most of the contractors were political during the Awami government. Many were rank-and-file leaders. That was the custom at that time. Most of the contractors who started the development works are now absconding.

They have not been seen since August 5. But since the works are assigned in the name of the contractor, many are doing some work through other people. But there is no speed in this work. It is known that the political leaders were supposed to complete these works by changing hands, but that process also seems to have stopped. City corporation authorities are trying to take appropriate steps.

President of Multiparty Advocacy Forum Cumilla , Badrul Huda Zenu said that the issue of who is where the contractor is is not important, but the city corporation should take initiatives to see how quickly the works can be completed.

In that case, the works of public importance areas should be completed by canceling the tenders and re-tendering or on their own urgent initiative. Otherwise public suffering will increase day by day and people's anger will also increase.

Cumilla City Corporation Executive Engineer Md Mainuddin Chishti said that if a contractor cannot complete his work on time then his work may be cancelled. Besides, there is a possibility of confiscation of his bail money.