It has been six years since the construction work of the new building of Kawkhali Upazila Health Complex in Pirojpur begun, but the construction company is yet to finish the work.
The construction company has managed to complete only 22% of the work, causing sufferings not only for patients but also their attendants and employees of the health complex.
According to Pirojpur Health Engineering Department, a tender was called in 2008 to build a two-storey building in a bid to upgrade 31-bed upazila health complex to 50-bed, and to build residential building for hospital employees. In the tender bid, the expenditure of the project had been estimated at Tk5.50 crore.
A construction company Messrs Nuri Enterprise, owned by Nasir Uddin Litu, brother of LGRD Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, won the bid.
Selim Ahmed, office assistant of Health Engineering Department, told the Dhaka Tribune that the construction firm was given the work order on June 25.
When the company was given work order it had been asked to complete the construction of the two buildings within 18 months. The construction company began its work on August 28 of that year.
During a recent visit to the health complex this correspondent found that the work on the building remained halted.
In the last six years, the construction firm only built a few pillars.
Rabiul Ahsan, a local resident, said there were no trace of people related to construction firm for last one year.
Dr Siddikur Rahman, upazila health and family planning officer, said they had sent letters to the construction firm several times, but they did not even reply to the letters.
He said patients, their attendants, doctors as well as employees of the health complex had been passing days in fear as the old building lies in a sorry state.
Plasters at several points of the building fell down and cracks on walls have already developed.
SM Ahsan Kabir, Kawkhali upazila chairman, told the Dhaka Tribune that as Nasir Uddin Litu was the brother of an influential Awami League leader, he might feel that he does not need to clarify his position to anyone.
Enamul Kabir, assistant engineer of Pirojpur Health Engineering Department, said they had already provided Tk1.25 crore to the construction firm, but the firm completed only 22% of the total work.
“We have already sent a letter to higher authority to cancel the work order of the firm,” he said. He expressed hope that the higher authorities would take measures against the firm without any delay.
While talking to the Dhaka Tribune Nasir Uddin Litu said the work was delayed because of a lack of fund.
He said they would try to finish the construction work of the health complex as soon as possible.
