Bangladesh Anti-Graft Agency Probes Alleged Use of Bamboo Instead of Steel in Tk 100 Million Bridge
TANGAIL, Bangladesh —
A team from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) inspected the under-construction bridge on Wednesday and examined several sections of the structure, including the footpath slabs and railing pillars.
The inspection was led by Biplob Hossain, an assistant director at the ACC’s Tangail district office. Other officials, including deputy assistant director Based Ali, also took part.
“Initially, it appears that there may have been irregularities,” Hossain told reporters after the inspection. He said officials broke open sections of the footpath slab and railing pillars and found that the quantity of steel reinforcement in some areas appeared to be lower than required.
The findings will be reviewed by technical experts before the ACC decides whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with further action, Hossain said.
“If the preliminary findings establish the allegations, we will inform the commission in detail and proceed according to its instructions,” he said.
Bamboo not found at inspection site
Hossain said the bamboo allegedly used in the concrete work was not found at the site during the ACC inspection.
However, he said officials had seen footage of the alleged use of bamboo circulated by the media. Bamboo was also observed being used in parts of the formwork, he added.
The allegations first came to public attention after local residents reportedly recorded video footage of workers using bamboo during construction of the bridge’s footpath slab late on Sunday night.
Residents said they intervened after noticing the alleged substitution of bamboo for steel reinforcement, temporarily stopping the work. According to their accounts, workers later resumed the concrete work at night after the residents had left the area.
The footage was subsequently shared on social media, prompting authorities to investigate.
Sub-contractor arrested
Police have arrested sub-contractor Shah Alam, 44, in connection with the case.
He was arrested on Tuesday evening near the Maij Khara bridge in Basail municipality. Alam is from Balapara village in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur district.
Basail Upazila Engineer Kazi Fattauar Rahman filed a case against two people associated with the contracting operation. Contractor SM Jahangir Alam was named as the primary accused, while Shah Alam was listed as the other accused.
The local administration has also formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations.
Engineer suspended
The allegations have also prompted administrative action within Bangladesh’s Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).
A sub-assistant engineer has been temporarily suspended, while two other engineers have been served show-cause notices.
The decisions were communicated through separate office orders and letters signed by LGED Chief Engineer Belal Hossain.
Bridge project delayed
The 90.06-metre bridge is being constructed over the Moragangi River in the Maij Khara area of Basail municipality. It forms part of the Basail GC–Kauljani Union Parishad road via Maij Khara GPS Road.
The project has a budget of Tk 100.992 million and is being implemented by a joint contracting operation involving Messrs Yunus Al Mamun and Messrs Zakir Enterprise.
Construction began in September 2022 and was originally scheduled for completion in February 2026. The deadline was later extended after the project failed to meet its original completion date.
About 80% of the construction work has been completed, according to officials, with the remaining work yet to be finished.
Authorities await technical tests
Basail Upazila Engineer Kazi Fattauar Rahman said the contractor and sub-contractor carried out the footpath and walkway concrete work at night without informing the authorities.
He described the work as defective and contrary to the prescribed procedures.
Officials from LGED’s Dhaka region and Tangail office have already inspected the site, he said. Laboratory tests and other technical examinations will be conducted before the authorities determine what further legal and administrative measures should be taken.
The investigation is expected to determine whether the alleged use of bamboo and insufficient steel reinforcement violated the project’s technical specifications and whether any structural or financial loss resulted.
Until the technical assessments and investigations are completed, the full extent of any construction irregularities remains to be established.
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