Youth dies after tractor overturns in Rajshahi

A youth was killed yesterday after a tractor carrying soil overturned at Chouddopai area near Rajshahi University.

The tractor was being used by contractors to illegally move soil from RU campus. The deceased Md Meraj (28) was working with one of the contractors. He was on the tractor when it overturned at around 3:30am yesterday in Chouddopai Fire Service area.

The vehicle skidded and overturned, said Sub-inspector Imran Hossain of Motihar Police Station told The Daily Star. A case was filed against the driver Ibrahim (25).

Following a tender last year, Rajshahi University had hired two contractors to excavate a pond inside the campus. The four-year deal did not entitle them to move or sell the soil that was being dug up.

However, contractors did not honour the terms of the tender, and continued to move the soil away from RU.

Meanwhile, the contractors -- Masud Rana, brother of a local Awami League leader, and Dablu Sarker, proprietor of Ohona Traders and general secretary of Rajshahi city AL -- have been illegally selling large amount of soil from RU for at least a month, defying the university authorities' order.

University authorities did not take any steps against them, except sending a few 'notices' to stop excavation.

Last Saturday, RU authorities in presence of university Vice Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan held a meeting with the contractors where the latter agreed to stop soil lifting.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Anand Kumar Saha, also chairperson of RU agriculture project advisor panel, told The Daily Star, "Those contractors were not supposed to take more soil, as they reached an agreement on Saturday."

"Following an emergency meeting of project advisors yesterday, we decided to stop excavation project, which is a primary step of closing the contract with the contractors," said Prodip Kumar Roy, acting officer of the project.