Faulty R&H design has doubled their miseries

The approach roads to Shahjalal Bridge-3 on Surma river on the outskirts of Sylhet city is yet to be constructed as the R&H Department has changed the design twice, threatening about 30 families with eviction for the second time. PHOTO: STAR

This has not only inflated the cost from Tk 45 crore to Tk 50 crore due to delay but is going to displace at least 30 families for the second time.

Allegations have it that the R&H changed the design of approach road to protect interests of some rich landowners at the cost of the poor 30 families at Sheikhpara.

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Work on the approach roads could not be started even in two years after expiry of the deadline for completion of the project.

Work on the 261-metre bridge on the Sylhet bypass road with nine kilometre approach roads on both sides began on August 14, 2000 and was scheduled to be completed by August 2003. There has not been any work for about a year and construction materials are being stolen from the site, sources said.

The R&H had acquired some lands and evicted about 30 poor families near earlier.

The evicted families built houses nearby. Now the R&H Department wants to acquire their lands, saying that the design of the northern approach road has been changed.

The affected families are now protesting the decision.

However, officials at the District Land Acquisition Office does not agree with the R & H, saying the same people can not be evicted twice. The R&H Department should not change the design once approved, which evicted some people from their ancestral homes.

Sources at the District Land Acquisition Office said they have sent the files to higher authorities in Dhaka, with a comment that the R & H proposal is not justified. They told The Daily Star that the same people can not be evicted twice. The stalemate on construction of the approach road has been created due to "faults" by R & H officials, they alleged.

Refuting the allegation, an R&D official said higher authorities in Dhaka finalise design. But he failed to explain the cause for change in the design. "We are trying to resolve these at an earliest".

Meanwhile, people at Sheikhpara at a press conference at Sylhet Press Club recently alleged that the R&H Department changed the design to protect lands of some rich people. They have sought intervention by Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, lawmaker from the area (Sylhet Sadar constituency).

In a memorandum submitted to the De puty Commissioner, they also alleged that the R&H Department officials changed design only to earn illegal benefit by saving lands of some influential people.

The changed design will affect about 100 families, they claimed.

In 1999, the R & H authorities acquired some lands for the northern approach road on the bank of Surma river, making many families in Sheikhpara homeless. Again, after a year, it acquired more lands for widening the road.

Months ago, the R&H again decided to acquire more lands for protection embankment for the approach road, they alleged.

They also sent memoranda to the Communication Minister and the Land Minister.

Earlier, when they were evicted first, they were given only Tk 12,000 per decimal where as the market value was Tk 1.5 to Tk 2 lakh in the city suburb, they alleged.

They also demanded probe into the matter.

The press conference was addressed by, among others, Tukerbazar Union Parishad Chairman Shahid Ahmed, Abdul Malik Member, Haji Nozir Hossain, Md Fokhor Uddin, Jahir Uddin.