Although locals halted the construction of a road in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali district alleging the use of substandard materials and deviation from tender specifications, work resumed shortly afterwards due to alleged interference by upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) President Abdullah Al Fahad.
The incident took place on Thursday afternoon during the RCC carpeting of a 98-metre road in the Kalaiya Port area of the upazila.
Local residents said the Patuakhali Roads and Highways Department undertook the RCC road project from Langra Munshirpool to the Sundari Cinema Hall of the area, with an estimated cost of around Tk 40 lakh. The work was awarded to M/S Kohinoor Enterprises through tender.
They alleged that substandard materials were being used, including saline sand instead of clean sand, while the thickness and width of the road were being reduced compared to the approved design.
Residents said they complained to Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Asadul Islam, who supervised the work, but to no avail. Following this, they stopped the construction work.
They further alleged that Abdullah Al Fahad arrived at the site within half an hour and instructed workers to resume work and they restarted the work accordingly.
Local residents Md Riaz Panchayat and Md Manju said the work was being carried without following the approved tender specifications, and claimed the construction schedule was not shown to them.
Meanwhile, when NTV Online correspondent for Bauphal and Dumki upazilas MA Hannan and Daily Khabarpatra's upazila correspondent HM Bablu went to collect news about the construction irregularities, the JCD leader verbally abused them.
However, speaking over the phone, he denied any involvement in stopping or restarting the work and rejected allegations of misconduct with journalists.
Sub-Assistant Engineer Asadul also claimed that there were no irregularities in the work, saying the schedule was available in his office.
Contractor representative Uttam said he only supervised labour, and materials were supplied by the contractor.
Kohinoor Enterprises proprietor Md Rashedul Islam declined to make any comment over the phone, saying said he will talk face to face.
Executive Engineer of the Patuakhali Roads and Highways Department Md Zamil Akter Limon said the work must be carried out according to design and assured that the matter would be investigated.