A significant infrastructure failure has ignited public fury in Gazipur, as a newly constructed riverside road in the Dhananjoykhali area of Kashimpur collapsed before it could even be inaugurated. The road, which skirts the banks of the Turag River, gave way mere days after completion, with substantial sections sinking several feet into the earth.
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A Rush to Completion
Local residents report that the final casting of the road was hurried to completion just days before a recent election. Within seventy-two hours of the bitumen being laid, ominous fissures began to appear. By Sunday morning, a large segment of the thoroughfare had suffered a total structural failure, leaving the remaining stretches riddled with cracks and rendering the entire route treacherous.
The project, managed by the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), was executed by a private firm, United Commercial Centre Limited (UCCL). Public records reveal a curious discrepancy in the financing; the contracts for both development packages were awarded at rates significantly higher than the initial government estimates.
Project Financials and Specifications
The development was split into two primary packages, aimed at transforming the Turag’s western bank with bituminous carpeting, footpaths, and protective guard walls.
| Project Package | Estimated Cost (BDT) | Awarded Contract Value (BDT) | Scope of Work |
| Package 1 | 10.80 Crore | 11.64 Crore | 1,150m road, 60mm carpeting |
| Package 2 | 13.19 Crore | 14.28 Crore | 12,460m road, footpaths, railings |
| Total | 23.99 Crore | 25.92 Crore | Combined infrastructure |
Allegations of Malpractice
The collapse has left the community in a state of disillusionment. Ruhul Amin, a local resident, expressed the collective frustration: “We waited years for this road. To see it crumble before the ribbon is even cut is heartbreaking. It is clear that the work was substandard.”
While Shamsur Rahman, Executive Engineer for the Kashimpur Zone, suggested that the proximity to the river might point toward natural causes or “planning flaws,” locals are less convinced. They allege that the use of inferior materials and a lack of proper oversight—compounded by the rush to meet political deadlines—are the true culprits.
Formal Investigation Launched
In response to the outcry, A.K.M. Harunur Rashid, the Project Director, has announced the formation of an inquiry committee. To ensure impartiality, the probe will be headed by an academic from the Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET).
The investigation seeks to determine whether the collapse resulted from geological instability or, as many suspect, professional negligence and corruption. Meanwhile, representatives from UCCL have remained unavailable for comment, failing to respond to multiple inquiries regarding the structural integrity of their work.
For now, the “dream road” for the people of Kashimpur remains a dangerous ruin, serving as a stark reminder of the costs of administrative haste.