Amtali (Barguna) Correspondent

Although the construction period of 3,160 meters road from Chalavanga culvert of Chawra Union of upazila under the jurisdiction of Local Government Engineering Department ( LGED) of Amtali upazila of Barguna to the base of Loda canal has expired, the contractor could not complete the work even last year.

As a result, the people of the area are suffering endlessly. It is alleged that the contractor has already withdrawn half of the bill by managing the LGED office. The local residents demanded that this work be completed quickly.

It has been reported that there is a 3,160 meter road from Chalabhanga culvert of Amtali upazila upazila to the head of Loda canal. The upazila engineering department invited tenders for the construction of this road. One Crore Seven Sixty Lakh Fourteen Thousand 689 Taka was allotted for that work. The tender for the work was held on April 25, 2023.

A contractor named M/s Rahman Traders got the work order . Work is scheduled to begin on May 1, 2023. The contractor started the road work in June that year. The term of the job expired on November 30 last year. After starting the work, the contractor managed the office of the upazila engineer and withdrew the money in two installments. But upazila engineer Md Idrisur Rahman does not know how much money he took.

The contractor has not been heard from in the past year since the money was withdrawn. Locals complained that the contractor Shaheen Khan did not give the width and depth of the road as per the tender. He left work. The road has been lying in that condition for the last year and month. Engineer Idrisur Rahman also said that the contractor did not apply for time extension even though the work period has passed by one year. People are finding it difficult to move due to the poor condition of the roads for the past few years. People are suffering a lot through this road.

Local writers Begum and Kamal said that the contractor had left behind sand and ditches. But he did not meet in the last year. This is causing problems in the movement of people in the area.

The contractor Shaheen Khan admitted that the road work was left behind and said that an application will be made for extension of the work period. I will complete the work within the next month.

Amtali Upazila Engineer Md. Idrisur Rahman said, without doing the work, the contractor has withdrawn a large part of the money allocated for the two installments of the road. My previous contractor gave him a discount on the work bill. He also said that the contractor did not apply for time despite the expiry of the work period.

The contractor has left work like this for the past few years. If the work is not completed, he will not be exempted from the remaining bill.