Shelter centres named ‘Mujib Killa’ which is aimed at protecting coastal people from natural disasters like cyclones, floods and tidal surge, are going to be ‘death trap’ as they are being built with low-quality construction materials.
Construction work of a total of 33 Mujib Killas involving Tk Tk 61.45 crore is underway in remote areas under Kalapara and Rangabali upazilas in Patuakhali coastal district.
During an investigation, our correspondent saw a terrible picture of the under-construction Mujib Killas. Most of the structures have already developed cracks before the completion of the work. Besides, they are being built with faulty design.
Enraged and frustrated by the low-quality construction work of the Mujib Killas, local people have dismantled parts of several shelter centres.
They alleged that most of the buildings have developed cracks before completion of the work, several parts of the structures have fallen apart and land subsidsed as they are being built with substandard materials.
“These shelter centres are aimed at protecting people’s lives and property from natural calamities, but it poses
a great risk to those who will take shelter there. There is massive corruption in the construction work,’ a local told the Bangladesh Post.
While visiting a Mujib Killa being built at a place adjacent to Dakshin Fulakhali Government Primary School in Chota Baishda union under Rangabali upazila in Patuakhali on May 19, our correspondent found cracks on the south and west sides of the walls of the structure. Due to the cracks, its stairs have been detached from the main building.
Many blocks placed around the Mujib Killa to preserve its soil have been found broken and subsidised. These blocks are supposed to be four-inch thick, but most of them are three inches. The surrounding of the Mujib Killa was supposed to be filled with soil, but it was filled with sand. The sand at the bottom of the block has subsidised in many places.
Talking to this correspondent, local people alleged that the blocks used to protect the Mujib Killa are made of brick dust and the blocks are three-inch thick instead of four inches.
This correspondent also visited several Mujib Killas at Rangabali and Kalapara upazilas in the district and found the same picture.
Abul Kalam of Fulkhali village of Chota Baishda Union said, “The construction work of Mujib Killa adjacent to South Phulakhali Govt. Primary School has been going on for about three years. It is being built with substandard materials. We doubt whether it will last five years. We tried to stop the work. But the contractor has threatened to sue us. Everyone in the area is very frustrated at the construction work of this shelter centre.”
He also said, “Seven to eight groups of constructions workers have been changed in three years. We heard that they (workers) have stopped work as they were not paid bill properly.”
When asked whether the engineer come to inspect the construction work, Kalam said, "He (the engineer) came several times, but he never said anything about the quality of work. It seems that the contractor everything with money.”
"The wall of the shelter centre may collapse any time. We don’t think it will be safe for people as the quality of the work was not good at all.”
Haider Khan is the contractor of Mujib Killa adjacent to South Fulakhali Government Primary School. This correspondent contacted Haider for his comments about the cracks on different sides of the Mujib Killa and the blocks used around it.
Haider claimed that he is using best quality construction materials and that all the blocks used are fine. Not a single block is displaced or broken, he added.
“The wall of the building developed cracks for not curing it properly. I will fix them all before handover.”
While visiting Mujib Killa adjacent to Altaf Paydar Bari in Purba Tiakhali, it was seen that the backside drainage system had completely collapsed. Numerous cracks were found on the walls of the building. Huge cracks extending from the ground level to the middle of the floor have detached the structure from the main building.
The brick walls have also developed cracks and they are about to collapse from the main columns rising from the ground level to the roof. Due to the cracks, the stairs on three sides of the building have been separated from the main building. These cracks and broken marks were later coated with black-and-white cement.
Locals fear that the shelter centres built with low-quality materials may collapse before they can be used. They alleged massive corruption and irregularities in the construction work.
Md Billal Munshi, a resident of Tiakhali Ward No. 4, showed this correspondent various broken parts of Mujib Killa and said, “Within two years after construction of this Mujib Killa in our village, everything is falling apart. It was built with very poor-quality materials, which caused the building to crack and cave in within a short period. So, how can we feel safe in the shelter during a natural calamity?”
Rafiq Construction Co (Pvt) Ltd was the contractor of the Mujib Killa adjacent to Altaf Paydar Bari in Purba Tiakhali.
When contacted, ATM Rafiqul Islam, owner of Rafiq Construction Co (Pvt) Ltd, said, “We have built three Mujib Killas in Kalapara. All the three were completed and handed over two years ago.”
“Those who are there under supervision or whose responsibility is to look after it can say this. We handed it over two years ago in a good condition,” he added.
When asked about the dilapidated condition of the shelter, he said lack of maintenance or flood or cyclone might be the reason for it.
At one point, he said, “I did not do the work. Someone did it in my name. I will talk to them in this regard.”
Engineer Kawsar Ahmed, in charge of constructing Mujib Killa in Kalapara-Rangabali Upazila, told the Bangladesh Post, “We faced some problems due to a minor design fault. We’re working to solve them. Now, the new design does not have these problems. We are trying to avoid these problems.”
How many Mujib Killas have this problem? In reply, Kawsar Ahmed said the walls of shelter centres developed cracks due to the previous designs.
When asked with how many new design Mujib Killas have been built in Kalapara and Rangabali upazila, he said that not a single one has been built here with new design.
When asked about blocks that had moved away or subsidised, Engineer Kawsar said, “Due to the ground settling, the block moved away or gone down. These problems occurred for not using geotextiles. We will not take the handover until they fix it.”
When his attention was drawn to the use of substandard construction materials, he claims that such allegation is not true.
When contacted, Md Humayun Kabir, Kalapara’s Project Implementation Officer (PIO), said, “I am in a meeting now. Please call me later.”
Later, this correspondent called and send an SMS to the PIO Officer several times, but he didn’t respond.
When contacted, Md Jan-E-Alam, Project Director of Construction, Renovation, and Development of the Mujib Killa Project, told the Bangladesh Post, “We have not received any complaints about Mujib Killa. The work I have seen so far are of very good quality. “We inspect every Mujib Killa before taking the handover from the contractor.”
When asked about the poor quality of work and cracks in many Mujib Killas under construction, he said, “If we find cracks or problems in any Mujib Killa, we will not pay the bill.”
“After taking delivery of a Mujib Killa, we have a one-year Defect Liability Period (DLP). In that one year, if we find that everything is fine, we return the amount of defect liability security money. And if everything is not right, we do all the work done by them (contractor) for that one year and then give them the security money.”
“Those Mujib Killas have been handed over to us. We have handed them over to the upazila concerned. After that, if there is any problem, the upazila will take care of it,” he said.
Md Jahangir Hossain, former Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kalapara, said, “While I was the UNO of Kalapara, several Mujib Killas were handed over. We have signed a deal with the Department of Disaster Management. But after signing the deal, it was sent to the ministry, but it didn’t return till I was in the office.”
“If the Mujib Killa lies vacant for a long time, the materials, including the solar plane, battery and other belongings of the Mujib Killa, may be damaged or stolen.”
“So there have been kept some clauses in the deal. As per the the deal, Mujib Killa can be used for school, NGO office or other social work. But during any disaster, it must be vacant for local people,” he added.
When asked about the dilapidated condition and repair work, he said, “It can be repaired with the TR allotment. As many Mujib Killas are constructed across the country, I think the government may allocate a budget for its repair work in the future.”
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibbur Rahman is aware of all the matters related to Mujib Killa, ministry sources said.
He (Mohibbur Rahman) is committed to taking action against those responsible for the low-quality construction work of Mujib Kella and declared zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.
Officials of the ministry and the Mujib Kella project have outlined six major objectives for the construction of the shelter centres. The primary aim of the structures is to protect disaster-affected people and their valuables. The structures are also meant for providing shelter for domestic animals during any natural disasters. Besides, they will be used as school and bazaar during normal time. Mujib Killa will also be used as venues for various social events and meetings organised by government and private organisations to promote community development. Besides, they will be used for training programmes conducted by public and private institutions and function as temporary centers during pre-disaster, disaster, and post-disaster periods.
