A Tk 10 crore riverbank protection project designed to protect homesteads and arable land along the Chhota Feni River in Feni’s Daganbhuiyan upazila has begun collapsing into the riverbed within just six months of execution.
Implemented under the supervision of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25, construction began on August 25 last year by joint-venture contractor Nahiyan Engineers & Builders - Kashem Traders JV. Local residents allege that instead of excavating 35 meters deep and placing specified GSM-grade sand-filled geo-bags as per project specifications, the contractor engaged in superficial earthwork, filling geo-bags with insufficient sand and laying CC blocks without proper cement-concrete bonding. Consequently, modest river currents ripped the geo-bags, causing massive CC block collapses along the embankment.
Responding to public outcry, BWDB Feni Executive Engineer Monirul Islam confirmed cracks in several embankment sections following an official site inspection. He stated that the contractor has been instructed to repair all damages under the contractual Defect Liability Period. He attributed the instability primarily to continuous tidal fluctuations resulting from the absence of the Musapur Regulator. However, affected residents in Daganbhuiyan and Sonagazi upazilas argue that temporary fixes will fail, demanding a full high-level investigation into financial irregularities to ensure a genuinely sustainable embankment.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Md. Fakhrul Islam, Feni Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
