Two LGED officials suspended over irregularities in Noakhali bridge construction

Two officials of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) have been temporarily suspended over alleged irregularities in the construction of a bridge in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali, while an investigation officer has been appointed to probe the allegations.

The suspended officials are LGED Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Nazmul Islam and Work Assistant Md Mohin Uddin.

LGED Chief Engineer Belal Hossain issued separate office orders on Wednesday confirming their suspension.

According to an LGED letter, the 49.06-metre bridge is being constructed from Zamindarhat in Begumganj upazila through Saheberhat and Hasanhat to the Maijdee Regional Highway. The work is being carried out by M/s Haque Traders.

Separate letters were issued to Noakhali Executive Engineer Jugol Krishna Mondal, Begumganj Upazila Engineer Abul Mansur Ahmed, Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Nazmul Islam and Work Assistant Md Mohin Uddin of the Begumganj Upazila Engineer’s Office in connection with the irregularities.

In another office order, LGED Noakhali Superintending Engineer ASM Mohsin was appointed as the investigation officer.

He has been directed to investigate the allegations and submit a report within three working days.

Earlier, LGED had sought explanations from two engineers over the incident and instructed the contractor to rectify the defective work.

On 21 September, an LGED superintending engineer, a laboratory technician and representatives of the contractor inspected the bridge construction site.

During the inspection, they found that the footpath slab work was of very poor quality and did not comply with the design and specifications. The reinforcement work on the bridge railings was also found to be substandard, according to the inspection findings.