Patuakhali infrastructure projects stall as contractor flees following political upheaval
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Infrastructure development in Patuakhali has stalled for nearly two years as a 765 million taka project involving the construction of 55 bridges and seven roads remains in limbo. The suspension of work follows the flight of the primary contractor, Ifti-ETCL Private Limited, owned by Mohiuddin Maharaj, a former member of parliament and local Awami League leader, following the political transition in August 2024.
According to Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) records, the projects were initiated across various fiscal years to improve rural connectivity. The scope of work, divided into 22 packages, includes girder and iron bridges, box culverts, and road widening. While some bridge structures were completed, the absence of connecting roads has rendered them largely unusable, while other sites remain abandoned with construction materials scattered across unfinished paths.
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The crisis deepened after the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) froze the bank accounts of Mohiuddin Maharaj and his firm. This action severed the flow of funds, forcing sub-contractors to abandon their sites due to payment disputes. Many sub-contractors, citing legal complications and the inability to access funds, have since filed petitions in court.
Executive Engineer of LGED in Patuakhali, Md. Hossain Ali Mir, confirmed that the department is currently unable to cancel the existing contract with Ifti-ETCL due to pending litigation. He stated that the department has reached out to the Local Government Ministry and other higher authorities for guidance. “Once we receive instructions from the court and higher authorities, we will engage with the contractors to finalize the projects as quickly as possible,” Mir said.
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The progress of the projects varies significantly. Official data indicates that the seven road improvement schemes have reached an average physical progress of 56 percent, ranging from a low of 25 percent to a high of 90 percent. Bridge construction has fared slightly better, with an average progress of 77 percent, though work in areas like Galachipa has stagnated at roughly 60 percent. In several instances, construction came to a halt as early as July 2024, leaving local residents to navigate hazardous, excavated roads filled with stagnant water and construction debris.
Attempts to reach the management of Ifti-ETCL were unsuccessful, as their contact numbers remained disconnected. Sub-contractor Abul Kalam Azad, who oversaw several of the project packages, noted that communication with the principal firm has ceased entirely. He and other contractors are currently awaiting judicial intervention to resolve the impasse, which has turned vital infrastructure into public hazards rather than assets.
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