Gazipur Road Collapses Prior to Official Opening

A significant infrastructure failure has ignited public fury in the Kashimpur district of Gazipur, where a newly constructed riverside road collapsed before it could even be officially inaugurated. The thoroughfare, situated alongside the Turag River in the Dhananjaykhali area, gave way only days after completion, with large sections sinking several feet into the earth.

A Rapid Rupture

Local residents report that the final stages of the project were executed with “unusual haste,” purportedly to finish ahead of a recent election cycle. Within seventy-two hours of the bitumen being laid, ominous fissures began to snake across the surface. By Sunday morning, a substantial portion of the carriageway had buckled entirely. The structural integrity of the remaining route is now in question, as smaller cracks continue to appear, rendering the stretch perilous for commuters.

Discrepancies in Cost and Quality

The project, managed by the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), was divided into two distinct development packages. Interestingly, the contracts were awarded to the firm United Commercial Center Limited (UCCL) at rates significantly higher than the initial government estimates. Despite this premium pricing, the quality of the finished product has clearly failed to meet even the most basic safety standards.

The following table outlines the financial and technical specifics of the two project packages:

Official Response and Accountability

Shamsur Rahman, Executive Engineer for the Kashimpur Zone, suggested that the proximity to the river might imply a “natural disaster” or a “design flaw.” However, his superiors are taking a more rigorous stance. A.K.M. Harunur Rashid, the Project Director, has announced the formation of a formal probe committee. This investigation will be headed by a senior academic from the Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) to determine if negligence or the use of substandard materials played a role.

The local community remains sceptical. Resident Ruhul Amin expressed a sentiment shared by many: “We waited years for this road. To see it crumble before the ribbon is even cut is a bitter disappointment. We don’t want excuses; we want accountability for the money that has been wasted.”

While the contractor, UCCL, has remained unavailable for comment, the GCC has promised “stern action” should the investigation find evidence of corruption or professional malpractice.