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A sub-contractor has been arrested in Tangail’s Basail after bamboo was allegedly used instead of steel rods while casting a footpath slab of a bridge under construction at a cost of Tk 10.09 crore.
Police arrested sub-contractor Shah Alam on Tuesday evening after Basail Upazila Engineer Kazi Fattuat Rahman filed a case against him and contractor Jahangir Hossain.
The 90.06-metre girder bridge is being constructed on the Basail GC-Kauljani UP Office via Maijhkhara GPS Road.
The project was awarded to a joint venture of Messrs Yunus Al Mamun and Messrs Zakir.
Construction began in September 2022 and was originally scheduled for completion in February 2024. The deadline was later extended, with around 80% of the work reportedly completed.
Local residents said workers began casting a footpath slab with bamboo instead of steel rods at around 10:30pm on Sunday. Residents protested and recorded the work on their mobile phones.
A video of the incident later circulated on social media, drawing the attention of the local administration.
Following the allegations, separate investigation committees formed by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) inspected the site and examined the construction quality and materials used.
District LGED Executive Engineer Jahanara Parvin said the authorities had instructed officials to demolish and remove work carried out contrary to the approved design and reconstruct it properly.
Police said Shah Alam would be produced before a Tangail court on Wednesday.