A road project valued at Tk 5.85 crore in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar has stalled at just 20 % completion, leaving a key route in poor condition and disrupting tourism, tea production and agriculture. The delay has hampered the region’s principal transport link, affecting local economic activities.
The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) issued a show‑cause notice to contractor Kohinoor Enterprise, warning that the contract could be cancelled, its Tk 29.27 lakh security deposit forfeited and the firm black‑listed unless it explains the delay and submits a work plan.
The 5.86‑kilometre road linking Sreemangal GC (Radhanagar) with Bishamoni Bazar and extending to Mohajerabad Bazar is currently being rehabilitated. The work is being carried out under Phase II of the Rural Road Rehabilitation Project.
The estimated cost of the project was Tk 6.27 crore. However, the contract was awarded for Tk 5.85 crore to Barisal‑based Kohinoor Enterprise, which is owned by Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury.
A work order dated 15 April 2024 set a completion target of 1 September. However, the project has been suspended for several weeks, with progress stalled at roughly 20 % of the work.
During a site inspection on 12 September, Sanjay Kumar Pandit, a Sub‑Assistant Engineer (Draftsman) with the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), found that no workers or contractor representatives were present at the site. Officials said that repeated attempts to contact the firm have not led to the work being resumed.
In a notice dated September 24, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) said that keeping the work suspended for more than 28 consecutive days without a valid reason constituted a breach of Clause 88.1(e) of the General Conditions of Contract.
The contractor has been instructed to submit a written work plan within three business days, detailing how it will complete the remaining tasks while upholding quality standards.
The road that runs in front of the Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf is a key artery for Sreemangal’s tourism sector, carrying thousands of visitors and several hundred vehicles each day.
The deteriorated condition of the route has impeded travel for residents and tourists alike, and has made the transport of critically ill patients and pregnant women to hospitals especially difficult.
Tea garden owners are encountering difficulties in delivering fresh leaves to processing factories promptly. In Radhanagar, lemon and pineapple growers are similarly experiencing delays in moving their produce to markets, with transport expenses reported to have nearly doubled.
Local residents met with the upazila engineer, urging the immediate completion of the road and requesting alternative traffic arrangements. They warned that, if the issue is not addressed, they will organise protests and road blockades.
Sreemangal Upazila Engineer Md Abdur Rakib said the contractor has been instructed to explain the delay and to submit a work plan. He added that if the response is unsatisfactory, authorities will recommend forfeiting the security deposit and blacklisting the firm.
Moulvibazar Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Executive Engineer Mohammad Farruk Ahmed said the contract will be cancelled and a new contractor appointed through a fresh tender if the firm fails to comply.
Md Ziaur Rahman, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sreemangal, said that steps are being taken with the relevant agencies to complete the remaining work as soon as possible.
Why it matters
The stalled infrastructure project directly disrupts local agriculture, tourism, and daily transportation for residents in Sreemangal.