Irregularities in carpeting of Purapara-Chandhat road in Nagarkanda alleged
Mizanur Rahman, Nagarkanda (Faridpur)
Allegations have been made against a contracting company for irregularities and the use of low-quality materials in the carpeting work on the road from Purapara to Chandhat Bazar in Nagarkanda Upazila of Faridpur.
Locals have alleged that within a month of the completion of the carpeting work on the 5-kilometer, 138-meter long road with a contract value of approximately 25.2 million taka, patching and puttying were seen at various places.
Saiyam Enterprise is working on the road. Local residents have stopped the work several times, alleging irregularities during the work. However, there are allegations that the contractor company, using local influence, completed the carpeting work in the dark of night.
Local residents have alleged that no official or responsible person from the Upazila Engineering Department was seen regularly supervising the road work during the construction. The people of the contracting company worked as they wished. They also alleged that the topsoil removed from the road was kept at the Betal Alia Madrasa, ground into powder in a machine and then used again for road work in the dark of night. Due to these reasons, questions have been raised about the quality of the road work.
Locals claim that problems have arisen at various places on the road within a short time after the work was completed. The contractor has to do patching and puttying work at various places within a month. They have expressed concerns about the durability of the road.
Ibrahis, a surveyor at the Upazila Engineering Department, who is in charge of supervising the road work, said that due to the rain, there were defects in the finishing of the road. Due to this, some problems were seen after the work was completed. Those problems are being fixed again by the contractor.
Upazila Engineer Md. Aminur Rahman joined on July 30, 2026. He said that the carpeting work of the road was completed before he joined. Some problems arose due to the carpeting work during the rains. Later, those problems were fixed again by the contractor.
Meanwhile, when asked about irregularities in road work and allegations of reuse of topsoil, Kamal Hossain, the owner of the contracting company Saiyam Enterprise, left the scene on a motorcycle without answering any questions.
In this regard, former vice-president of Nagarkanda Upazila BNP, Mahabub Ali Mia, said, "The current government is doing development work across the country. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid is trying to take various initiatives for the development of Nagarkanda and Saltha Upazilas. In this situation, if there is any irregularity in any project, the concerned officer and contractor will have to take responsibility."
He also said that local residents have told them that the road work is of poor quality. Legal action should be taken against those who are tarnishing the image of the government by committing irregularities in government development work or are trying to do so.
Local residents have demanded an inspection of the quality of the road work, an investigation into the allegations of topsoil reuse, and necessary action against those responsible. They hope that the relevant authorities will conduct an on-site investigation and ensure the durability and construction quality of the road.
