Staff Correspondent

Sheikh Rabiul Alam MP, the Minister for Road Transport & Bridges, Shipping, and Railways, today clarified that the soil beneath the viaduct of the newly constructed Buriganga River rail bridge is being removed solely to restore the original natural ecosystem.

He assured that the excavation poses absolutely no threat to the structural integrity of the viaduct and is being conducted in strict compliance with the contractual agreement signed with the construction firm.

The minister made these remarks while exchanging views with journalists following his inspection of the viaduct site under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project at Aliganj in Fatullah under Narayanganj Sadar Upazila on Thursday.

Addressing recent social media allegations claiming that an influential local circle was illegally selling the soil and endangering the bridge pillars, the minister dismissed the rumors as baseless and motivated, emphasizing that no unauthorized commercial soil mining is taking place.

Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam explained that the contracting firm is legally bound to restore the project site to its pre-project environmental condition upon completion. He noted that the contractor is responsible for dismantling all temporary infrastructures and removing backfill soil used during construction.

He urged the media to broadcast the actual facts rather than spreading misleading information and sought the continuous cooperation of the local community. State Minister for Road Transport, Highways, and Railways Habibur Rashid MP, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Md. Fahimul Islam, senior officials from Bangladesh Railway and the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, alongside local dignitaries, were also present during the inspection.