TBM Report
Heavy rainfall has triggered widespread collapses and giant sinkholes along a newly constructed BDT 11.7 billion mega-embankment in Monpura island, sparking fears of catastrophic flooding among 150,000 coastal residents.
Locals attribute the structural failure to sub-standard construction materials and a glaring lack of oversight by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
Torrential downpours over Tuesday and Wednesday severely damaged vulnerable sections along Wards 2 and 3 of Hajirhat Union. Silt and loose sand washed down from the collapsing dyke, destroying adjacent paddy fields and ruining seasonal Aman crops belonging to local farmers.
According to BWDB sources, the government launched the comprehensive coastal protection initiative during the 2023-24 fiscal year to rehabilitate embankments and bolster drainage systems across Mujibnagar and Monpura. Six major primary contractors—NBE, OTBL, GCL, LAK SSA, PDL, and Western—won the bids for the 50.7-kilometer stretch.
Residents allege that primary awardees illegally sub-contracted the physical execution to third-party vendors. These sub-contractors compromised engineering standards by using weak, uncompacted riverbed sand dredged directly from the Meghna River. Community members fear the entire island will submerge if a severe cyclone hits the coast.
Sufian, a resident of Hajirhat, noted that structural defects have already proved fatal in the past. Last year, a student leader lost his life protesting sub-standard work, while a 10-year-old child drowned after falling into an embankment pit in the Ramnewaz area.
Responding to allegations, project site engineer Md. Tuhin stated that heavy machinery has been deployed to repair the damaged sections under direct BWDB supervision. BWDB Division-2 Executive Engineer Md. Ashfauddoula emphasized that the project remains under construction, adding that contractors have received strict orders to restore all eroded embankments immediately.
