JHALAKATHI, JUNE 20, (V7N) - Although the canal in Godanda area of ​​Subidpur union in Nalchiti upazila of Jhalakathi has almost disappeared, there have been allegations of wastage of government money due to the construction of a 10-meter long RCC slab bridge there at a cost of about 38 million taka. At the same time, members of several families in the vicinity have faced new complications over the construction of a connecting road to the bridge.
 
According to LGED sources, the bridge is being constructed under the BDIRWSP project on the Nachanmahal Union Road via Manpasha GC-Taltala-Bhabanipur.
The work was scheduled to begin on February 7 and end on November 18, 2025. The contractor has already been paid a bill of Tk 74 lakh 16 thousand 179.
 
Locals complain that where there was once a box culvert over a small canal, the canal is now almost extinct. Questions have been raised about the rationality of building a new bridge in such a place. In addition, there is a fear that if a connection road is built to open the bridge, the roads in front of the houses of some families will be blocked.
 
Victims Abbas Hawlader, Morsheda Begum, Jamal and Sabuj said that if the connecting road is built, their normal travel will be disrupted. They want a quick solution to the problem.
 
A section of locals claim that the project was undertaken without proper planning and reality check, which has now led to public suffering and waste of government money.
 
There are further allegations among locals that the project's officer-in-charge (SO), Deputy Assistant Engineer Moinul Azam, committed irregularities in collusion with the contracting company and District Awami League treasurer Monirul Islam Talukder.
 
However, Deputy Assistant Engineer Moinul Azam denied the allegations and said, "I have not committed any irregularities. Alternative transportation arrangements will be made for the affected families."
 
In this regard, Upazila Engineer Azizul Haque said, "The bridge has been built on the site of an earlier culvert. There have been some complications regarding the matter, but we are already reviewing the matter. Necessary measures will be taken on how to build the connecting road without harming the locals."
END/AIJ/RH/