Cracks have appeared in an under-construction bridge in Matlab Municipality of Chandpur before its completion, raising concerns among local residents over the quality of the Tk2.2 crore project.
Residents alleged that the damage resulted from the use of substandard construction materials, construction irregularities, and inadequate supervision throughout the project. They have called for an impartial investigation and urged authorities to reconstruct the defective sections.
The approximately 100-foot bridge is being built on Baradia Bazar Road, connecting Shaheed Ullah's shop with the area adjacent to Ishaq Miji's house. It will replace a 10-foot culvert as part of a project aimed at improving local connectivity. The project also includes the construction of approach roads on both sides of the bridge.
A visit to the site found visible cracks in several sections, extending from the lower portion of the structure to the upper deck, even before construction had been completed.
The premature deterioration has raised concerns among residents, who fear the bridge may not be able to withstand heavy traffic once opened.
Locals said they had raised concerns about the quality of the construction from the outset but alleged that their complaints were ignored. Some also claimed they were threatened with false extortion cases after questioning the project's quality.
Riyad Hossain Pradhan, a local resident, said the bridge was being built with more than Tk2 crore in public funds, yet the quality of the work appeared questionable.
"We want an impartial investigation. The defective sections should be demolished and reconstructed to ensure the bridge is safe for public use," he said.
Another resident, Mehedi Hasan Miji, alleged that low-quality materials had been used from the beginning of the project.
"Those who protested were threatened, and now cracks are visible across the bridge," he claimed.
Rejecting the allegations, contractor Md Zahir said the bridge was being constructed in accordance with the required standards and described the residents' claims as ‘baseless and untrue.’
Ferdous Ahmed, assistant engineer (Civil) of Matlab Municipality, who is responsible for supervising the project, declined to comment when contacted and referred inquiries to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), who is currently overseeing the municipality.
Matlab South UNO KM Ishmam said the administration was aware of the cracks and had already instructed the contractor to repair the damaged sections.
He added that the remaining construction work would be closely monitored to ensure the project meets the required standards.
Residents, however, continue to demand an independent technical assessment of the bridge before it is opened to traffic, arguing that repairs alone may not be sufficient to address concerns over its structural.
