Tangail Correspondent

A controversy has emerged over the construction of a bridge in Maizkhara Moragangi area of Basail upazila in Tangail, where bamboo was allegedly used instead of steel reinforcement rods in a section of the structure.

The incident has sparked concern among local residents after a video showing the alleged use of bamboo during construction spread on social media.

According to local sources, bamboo was allegedly placed in the footpath slab of the under-construction bridge before concrete was poured. The incident reportedly occurred at around 10:30pm on September 20, when several local residents noticed construction work taking place at the site and recorded the incident on their mobile phones.

The video later circulated widely on social media, bringing the matter to the attention of the local administration.

On September 21, Basail Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Iqbal Hossain and Upazila Engineer Kazi Fattahur Rahman reportedly visited the construction site to inspect the situation. Reports published by local media stated that the inspection found evidence of bamboo being used in place of steel rods in part of the construction work.

A Bridge Project Worth More Than Tk 100 Million

According to information cited by media reports from the Upazila Engineering Office, the bridge is being constructed on the Basail GC-Kauljani UP Office via Maizkhara GPS Road.

The approximately 90.06-metre-long PSC girder bridge is reportedly being constructed by M/s Yunus Al Mamun–M/s Zakir Enterprise (JB).

The contract value of the project is approximately Tk 100.99 million (Tk 10.09 crore).

Construction reportedly began in September 2022, with the original deadline set for February 2024. The project deadline was subsequently extended. Reports also stated that a significant portion of the bridge has already been completed, while some work remains unfinished.

Questions Over Construction Supervision

The incident has raised questions about the supervision and monitoring of government-funded construction projects.

Local residents have questioned how materials allegedly different from the required specifications could be used during construction without being detected immediately.

Residents also said that the incident came to light because some people were present at the site and noticed the construction activity at night. They believe the quality of the entire bridge should be examined rather than focusing only on the section where the alleged irregularity was detected.

Calls for Investigation and Accountability

The incident has also prompted calls for a proper investigation into how the alleged irregularity occurred and whether there was any negligence in the supervision of the construction work.

However, determining who was responsible for the alleged use of bamboo requires a proper investigation and examination of the available evidence. No individual or organization should be held conclusively responsible without due verification.

A government-funded bridge is expected to serve as a safe and durable transportation link for local communities for many years. Therefore, if any irregularity is established, residents want the authorities to take appropriate action and ensure that the construction meets the required technical standards.

The incident has now raised broader questions about construction quality, project supervision and accountability in government-funded infrastructure projects.

Local residents are waiting to see what steps the relevant authorities will take following the inspection and whether a transparent investigation will be conducted.