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Tk 132cr Sylhet Flood Control, Irrigation Proiect

Construction of mega pump house remains halted

Local material supplier blamed for the stalemate, charge-sheeted in extortion case

Iqbal Siddiquee, sylhet
Work for construction of a Tk 35-crore pump house meant for a gigantic flood control and irrigational project in the district have remained suspended for over six months amid 'extortion' by the local material supplier.
Water Development Board's (WDB) undertook the initiative to build the pump house at Rahimpur in Zakiganj upazila of the district, under the Tk 132-crore Upper Surma-Kushiyara Project spreading over five upazilas in Sylhet district.
Meanwhile, Detective Branch (DB) of police sub-mitted charge sheet against three people including the main accused in the extortion case weeks ago.
WDB awarded Hasan and Brothers, a Dhakabased firm, the Tk 35 crore
contract for constructing a pump house at Rahimpur canal in Zakiganj upazila in June last year nut only after a month, the contractor's men left the site due to security reasons.
"We stopped taking materials from local supplier Ekram Uddin Suja as he supplied low quality stone and sand for the project. Bur he created pressure for accepting the materials and demanded money for it," said SM Manir Uddin, manager of Hasan and Brothers.
"Suspending the works, we left the site in late July last year on security grounds as Ekram and his men, who live near the project site, threatened our people with serious consequences," Manir said.
In August last year, Manir filed an extortion case against Ekram Uddin and police arrested him
several days later. Coming out on bail after weeks, Ekram filed a counter case accusing Manir, and others including the local union parishad chairman on November 6.
Later police submitted the final report in the case filed by Ekram as it was found baseless, police said.
"We will resume the work if the WDB and local administration provide us security," Manir said.
Contacted, Sylhet Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain said, "As the works of an important project remained suspended, the lawmen took it seriously and the cases were transferred to the Detective Branch.
Weeks ago, DB SubInspector Abdus Salam filed charge sheet against three accused including Ekram, DB sources said.
"Implementation of the Upper Surma project is a long-standing demand in the region as we have been suffering much in absence of such an irrigation and flood control project. We want early resumption of the work since it would greatly benefit the people of Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Kanaighat, Golapganj and Sylhet Sadar upazilas," said Mashuk Uddin Ahmed, former chairman of Zakiganj upazila parishad.
Contacted, Shailen Chandra Paul, executive engineer of the WDB in Sylhet, said, "We hope the contractor will be able to resume construction of the pump house in a month or two."
Despite attempts for a couple of days, this correspondent failed to contact accused Ekram Uddin for his version as his mobile was found off.