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Police have arrested a subcontractor after bamboo was allegedly used instead of steel reinforcement bars in concrete slabs of a footpath on an under-construction bridge in Basail, Tangail, costing over Tk 10 crore.
The arrested man, Shah Alam, 44, was detained near the Maizkhara Bridge in Basail municipality on Tuesday afternoon.
Basail Upazila Engineer Kazi Fattaur Rahman filed a case against contractor SM Jahangir Alam and subcontractor Shah Alam over the incident, said Basail Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Alamgir Kabir.
Police said efforts were underway to arrest the principal accused, SM Jahangir Alam.
The 90.6-metre PSC girder bridge on the Basail GC-Kauljani UP Office via Maizkhara GPS Road is being constructed at a cost of Tk 10.09 crore. The project was awarded to a joint venture of Messrs Yunus Al Mamun and Messrs Zakir Enterprise (JB).
Construction began in September 2022 and was initially scheduled for completion in February 2024. The deadline was later extended.
According to the upazila engineer, the footpath or walkway slabs were cast secretly at night in the absence of LGED officials. The alleged use of bamboo instead of reinforcement bars was detected later, prompting officials to inform their superiors and take legal action.
“The work was carried out without informing us and in our complete absence. The construction is highly irregular and defective,” Fattaur Rahman said.
He added that the alleged negligence posed risks to public safety and could compromise the quality and safety of the bridge.
LGED Supervising Engineer for the Dhaka region Abul Manzur Mohammad Sadeque inspected the bridge site on Tuesday afternoon along with other officials.
A three-member investigation committee has also been formed by the upazila administration. Upazila Project Implementation Officer (additional charge) Md Ahadi Hossain has been made convener, while Basail Municipality Assistant Engineer Robiul Alam and Upazila Public Health Engineering Department Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Altab Hossain are members.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within one day.
Meanwhile, the LGED has issued a show-cause notice to the contractor and sought an explanation over the alleged negligence, along with directing necessary rectification work.
OC Alamgir Kabir said the case was filed by the upazila engineer against the contractor and subcontractor. Shah Alam has been arrested and is currently in police custody, while efforts are underway to apprehend the other accused.