The site of Barisal city’s old municipal market has become an accident hazard and garbage dump because planned construction of a new market had not begun two years after the old one was torn down.
City corporation authorities and local residents said the site used to be occupied by an old pond.
Located at the crossing of Sadar Road, Fakir Bari Road and Katpatty Road, the site sits in the busiest and most valuable location at the heart of Barisal city.
Before independence, a wooden board walk and platforms were built on the banks of the pond and the space rented out to commercial outlets by the municipality.
After liberation a three-storey municipal supermarket was constructed after existing shops were evicted and the pond filled, AL-backed local ward 17 councillor Akhtaruzzaman Hiru said.
The three-storey municipal supermarket was demolished in 2012 after a decision was taken to construct an eight-storey supermarket at the cost of Tk16 crore.
But even after twice calling for tenders, construction work had not yet started due to trouble with funding and design, the local ward councillor explained.
The place, in the meantime, has turned into a massive ditch at the crossing of three main roads. It is now used as a urinal, a garbage dump and a fish-farm.
Advocate Abu Taher, of the adjacent Fakirbari area, said people were often hurt after falling into the ditch.
Motaleb Haoladar, executive engineer of Barisal City Corporation (BCC), said tenders were twice cancelled due to changes in the design of the new structure. Procedures to hold the third round of tenders were completed, he said. Work orders will be given as soon as funds can be made ready.
When approached about the situation, Tariqul Islam, BCC chief engineer, said the city corporation would erect fences around the construction site to prevent accidents and the dumping of waste.