LGED engineer, contractor confined for two hours in Lalmonirhat

Residents of Lalmonirhat sadar yesterday restricted a LGED engineer and a contractor from carrying out their work of a project on allegations of corruption and irregularities.   The agitated villagers of Zirampur under Mogholhat union also put the construction work of the road, which started in the beginning of March, on a halt. They confined the engineer Nazrul Islam and contractor Jewel Ahmed from 10am to 12noon. Later the political and influential leaders of the union helped them to be released.    District LGED officials have denied having authority to take steps against the construction firm, Ety Enterprise, which was given the project worth Tk3.2m. All three officials concerned blamed each other.    Local alleged that the contractor and some corrupt LGED engineers had been constructing a one-kilometre road violating the work plan.    The contractor used substandard bricks and materials in the construction. Although the road was supposed to be eight foot wide, the contractor made the width seven foot.    Moreover carpeting of the 450 metre long road began without cleaning it, so the locals claim the road will not last long. Thickness of the carpeting was also one inch instead of two. The construction of the road ended on Thursday night.    Villager Entajur Rahman alleged they had complained several times to the local LGED executive engineer and senior assistant engineer about the corruption and irregularities but they did not take any step.   “The LGED engineers had an agreement to get 30% of the project budget from the contractor, so they are silent in taking any step regarding the matter,” said Entajur, a freedom fighter, claiming the contractor plans to finish the work spending only 50% of the allocation.   The confined LGED sub-assistant engineer, Nazrul, said he did not know details about the project work. His task was only to supervise the work.  He also claimed that the executive engineer and senior assistant engineer would take proper steps. Contacted, Executive Engineer of LGED in Lalmonirhat, Khalilur Rahman, requested journalists to talk to Senior Assistant Engineer Jahidur Rahman Mondol on the matter.    However, Jahidur said he was not the right person and so refused to comment.  Owner of Ety Enterprise Kazi Enamul Haque could not be contacted for comments. The confined contractor, Jewel, who got the sub-contract from Ety Enterprise also refused to comment.    Agitated by the reluctance of the authorities, local people threatened to stop the construction work completely if no steps are taken by the LGED engineers.