Satchari National Park, one of Habiganj’s most popular tourist destinations, has been hit by allegations of widespread irregularities and corruption in a project costing nearly Tk 15 million.
The approach road to a bridge and parts of its guide wall collapsed even before the bridge was officially inaugurated, sparking widespread anger among tourists and local residents.
They alleged that the use of substandard construction materials and inadequate supervision had led to the damage. A visitor named Sentu said the project had been mismanaged due to a lack of regular monitoring, describing the situation as “deeply disappointing.”
Attempts to contact the contractor involved in the project for comments were unsuccessful.
Shafiqul Islam Abul, president of the Satchari National Park Co-management Committee, said it was extremely unfortunate that the bridge had collapsed even before its inauguration.
“I hope the authorities concerned will take appropriate action,” he said.
Chunarughat Upazila Engineer Fazlul Haque said parts of the approach road and the bridge’s guide wall had collapsed due to heavy rainfall and strong currents in the hill stream.
“There has been negligence on the part of the contractor. The issue will be resolved as soon as possible,” he said.
Chunarughat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Galib Chowdhury said he had visited the damaged areas of Satchari.
“An expert team from Dhaka will assess the situation. Based on their recommendations, a new plan will be prepared and the damaged sections will be rebuilt. If any irregularities are found, action will be taken against those responsible,” he said.
According to officials, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) began construction of the bridge in May 2023 at a cost of nearly Tk 15 million to facilitate the movement of visitors to Satchari National Park.
The project was scheduled to be completed by December 2025. However, despite the deadline having passed, the work remains incomplete. Around 70 percent of the project bill has already been paid.
A visit to the site found that the approach roads on both sides of the bridge had collapsed. Several sections of the stream’s guide wall were lying in a severely damaged condition. In many places, concrete blocks had shifted, tearing the geotextile fabric. The blocks were scattered haphazardly inside the stream.
Local residents said that although questions had been raised about the quality of the construction work, the contractor had been carrying out the project in a careless manner due to a lack of regular supervision.
At present, around 200 sacks of sand are being used to temporarily facilitate the movement of visitors through the damaged area. Work is also being carried out hastily on the approach road to restore access.
Abdul Jahir Mia, a local resident, said Satchari National Park was one of the country’s major tourist attractions.
“Such irregularities cannot be tolerated here. A prompt investigation should be conducted and legal action should be taken against those responsible,” he said.
