A culvert project worth Tk19.43 lakh in Kurigram’s Rajarhat Upazila has remained stalled for nearly a year, leaving around 5,000 residents of at least six villages struggling to commute daily.
The 4.26-metre reinforced cement concrete (RCC) culvert was supposed to be built around 100 metres south of Gatiasham Government Primary School in Gharialdanga Union under the 2024-25 fiscal year allocation. However, no visible construction work has taken place despite the passage of nearly a year.
According to local sources, the road was excavated for the culvert construction around a year ago. But the work suddenly stopped without any visible explanation. Even the foundation casting of the structure has not been completed.
Locals alleged that contractor Nur Alam started the work but abandoned it midway. They said repeated attempts to contact him yielded no satisfactory response despite assurances that the work would resume.
Local resident Aminul Islam, 60, said the road was vital for farmers as many agricultural lands are located across the canal.
“We cannot bring harvested paddy home because there is no bridge. We informed the member and chairman, but no action was taken,” he said.
Another resident Azizul Islam said nearly 300 students from Musrut Nakenda Nesamia Model Madrasa, Gatiasham Government Primary School and three nearby secondary and higher secondary institutions use the road regularly.
“Children and elderly people are now facing serious risks while crossing the area,” he said.
He added that locals had built a temporary bamboo bridge, but it became unusable due to poor construction quality.
Day labourers Alam Mia and Fazlu Mia said vans could no longer use the road, disrupting their ability to travel for work.
“We survive on daily earnings. If we cannot go to work, we cannot eat,” they said.
Another resident Shah Alam said his nephew had fallen into the water while trying to cross the damaged road.
“Locals rescued him later. We have submitted a written complaint to the upazila nirbahi officer,” he said.
Rajarhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanjila Tasnim said the authorities had received the complaint and instructed officials to complete the work quickly.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md Asaduzzaman said the project was supposed to be completed by June.
“The contractor has been issued several notices. A letter was also sent seeking his blacklisting. Despite that, the work remains unfinished. Fresh instructions have again been issued to complete the project immediately,” he said.
Contacted over the issue, contractor Nur Alam claimed electrical problems in the area were causing the delay.
