Incomplete road project causes four yrs of suffering for Chandpur people

CHANDPUR, June 6: More than 50,000 residents of six villages under Nayergaon Dakhshin Union in Matlab Dakhshin Upazila have been suffering for the last four years due to the poor condition of two roads with a combined length of three kilometres.

According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the project contractor abandoned the work after completing only preliminary renovation activities, leaving the roads unfinished.

LGED Upazila Engineer Mehedi Hasan said contractor Mofazzol Hossain of M/s Matlab Trading suddenly disappeared along with his workers after carrying out some initial work on the roads. He said the contractor remains untraceable and that steps are being taken to cancel the contract.

The three-kilometre road project consists of two sections. One section stretches 1.5 kilometres from Massua Khal to Charotvanga, while the other runs 1.5 kilometres from Khorgopur to the Meheron Dalalbari area.

Following a competitive tender process in 2023, M/s Matlab Trading was awarded the Tk 35.4 million (Tk 3.54 crore) project. After completing the necessary formalities, the work order was issued to Matlab Trading on May 2, 2023.

Initially, renovation and carpeting work progressed smoothly. However, after a few weeks, the contractor and his workers left the project site without completing the work, causing immense hardship to local residents.

Locals alleged that despite the passage of several years, the road repair work remains unfinished.

A field survey found that more than 50,000 people from Massuakhal, Charotvanga, Meheron, Dalalbari, Kajiara and nearby villages use the roads daily.

Farmers, patients and transport operators said they are facing severe difficulties due to the roads' dilapidated, rough and uneven condition. The situation worsens during the night and in the rainy season, when vehicles often overturn, leading to accidents.

Officials at the Matlab Upazila LGED Office said several notices were served to the contractor, urging him to resume work in accordance with the contract, but there has been no response.

Expressing frustration, Upazila Engineer Mehedi Hasan said the authorities are now left with no alternative but to cancel the contract and take further action.

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