Villagers suffer as road, culvert in awful state

Around 10,000 people of eight villages of Athorogachia union in Amtali upazila under Barguna district are suffering as the work for renovating a road and a culvert has not started, five years after selection of the contractor for the purpose.

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Amtali gave a Tk 50 lakh work order to Tarun Enterprize for renovation of one kilometre road from Jugol D Hopa's house to Sikder Bari and a culvert across Chaula canal on the road connecting Athorogachia union parishad in 2010-2011 fiscal year to ease communication.

But the work has not started yet, much to the sufferings of around 10,000 people of Chaula, Athorogachia, Shakharia, Kewabunia, Khakdan, Gerabunia, Godangha and Sonakhali villages in Athorogachia union parishad (UP), especially in the rainy season, said Noor Mohammad Howlader, a local resident.

Monoara Begum, local UP member, said, "We raised the matter in the UP development committee's meeting and approached the upazila LGED officer several times to take step to start the work but to no effect yet."

Md Nazrul Islam, Amtali upazila LGED engineer, said, "We have already asked the contractor to complete the work as soon as possible. If he fails to start the work immediately we will take lawful step."

This correspondent failed to take the views of Alauddin, owner of Tarun Enterprize, as he cut the phone connection several times after hearing identity of this correspondent.