A culvert under construction over the Barakhal canal in the Manikkona area of Fenchuganj upazila, Sylhet, has sparked public concern, with local residents alleging that the nearly Tk 40 million project has been designed at an insufficient height.
Officials from the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) inspected the construction site on Tuesday following objections raised by local residents.
According to local sources, the culvert is being built on the only road linking Fenchuganj with Manikkona, Mirganj and Golapganj. The road is used daily by more than 100,000 people.
Construction began recently, but concerns emerged after the structure reached road level. Residents claim the culvert has been built too low, raising doubts over whether boats will be able to pass underneath or whether it will allow adequate water flow through the canal.
The issue has also gained traction on social media in recent days, with many residents calling for the culvert to be raised. Before the dispute escalated further, North Fenchuganj Union Parishad Chairman Abzal Hossain intervened and requested action from the Roads and Highways Department.
On Tuesday, RHD Executive Engineer Khairul Bashar Md. Saddam Hossain and Sub-Divisional Engineer Mohammad Iqbal Ahmed visited the site to assess the situation.
Chairman Abzal Hossain said local residents had long been demanding that the culvert be built at a greater height. "The engineers have visited the site today, and we have asked them to find a solution," he said.
After inspecting the project, RHD engineers said raising the culvert would require extending both approaches, but there is insufficient land on either side because residential houses are located close to the structure.
They also noted that increasing only the height of the central span would create a steep elevation, which could pose a safety risk for vehicles.
According to the engineers, the project is being implemented based on a design prepared by the department's design team in Dhaka. Any modification to the structure would require further assessment by that team.
"The design team will need to conduct new measurements and determine whether any changes are feasible. We will request their involvement. Until then, construction work will remain suspended," the engineers said.
