A video showing soil being removed from beneath the pillars of the Padma Railway Bridge in Aliganj, Fatullah, has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread criticism and concerns about the safety of the bridge.
Authorities involved in the project have confirmed that the soil excavation work has been suspended following public backlash.
The footage, widely shared online, appears to show soil being removed from underneath and alongside several bridge pillars using heavy excavation equipment. The identities of those carrying out the work have not been independently verified.
Local residents alleged that a group had been extracting soil from beneath the bridge and selling it to brick kilns, raising fears that the excavation could weaken the bridge's foundation. However, project officials maintain that the work was authorized and formed part of an environmental restoration plan.
A site visit found visible signs of excavation around pillars 85, 86, and 87, where large pits had formed and water had accumulated. The work has since been halted pending further review.
Residents accused former Qutubpur Union member Abu Bakkar and his associates of being involved in the excavation. He denied the allegation, claiming that others from the Fatullah area were responsible and that the work had been carried out with official permission.
According to Abu Bakkar, a contractor previously received a tender from a Chinese company to remove soil from the area beneath the bridge, but the project faced local opposition and was stopped. He alleged that a different group later resumed excavation activities.
Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) S.M. Faiz Uddin said government officials visited the site and participated in discussions involving railway authorities, the contractor, and representatives of the Bangladesh Army's engineering unit. He said the matter had been referred to the deputy commissioner for further action.
Fatullah Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohammad Asaduzzaman Noor said local authorities initially halted the excavation and later learned that a meeting had been held with the deputy commissioner regarding the issue.
Railway officials and project authorities have offered differing accounts of whether proper authorization had been obtained.
Shimul Kumar Saha, Divisional Land Property Officer of the Dhaka Railway Division, said the railway authorities had not granted permission for the excavation, though he could not confirm whether approval had been issued by the project management.
Bridge and viaduct engineer for the Padma Rail Link Project Aminul Karim said the work had been officially approved. He explained that a 600-meter section between pillars 76 and 90 had originally been a water body that was temporarily filled with soil and sand during construction.
According to Karim, the excavation was intended to restore the original water body as part of the project's environmental commitments. He said the bridge was built on deep pile foundations and pile caps designed to ensure structural stability, adding that removing the temporary fill material would not affect the integrity of the structure.
He also alleged that misinformation regarding the excavation was being spread on social media by individuals pursuing vested interests.
Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Raihan Kabir said he asked the contractor to provide documentation authorizing the excavation. When the contractor failed to produce the necessary permits, authorities ordered the work to stop.
He noted that permission had previously been granted to remove excess fill material after construction. However, because settlements have since developed in the area, no further soil excavation will be allowed.
The controversy has drawn significant public attention, with authorities now reviewing the circumstances surrounding the excavation and its potential impact on the bridge and surrounding environment.
