Road repair corruption in Comilla has become a serious crisis. A six-and-a-quarter-kilometer road from Kutumbpur to Keshra in Chandina Upazila received a Tk 9 crore allocation, but after six months, carpeting hasn’t even started. Instead, the monsoon rain has caused major damage to the road. Potholes and cracks have made it nearly unusable.
And this is not an isolated case. At least 50 roads across Comilla are facing the same fate—delayed work, poor materials, and widespread irregularities. In response, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has fined 40 contractors a total of over Tk 3.13 crore. Some contracts have been canceled, and several firms have been blacklisted.
One glaring example is the Kotbari–Sreebidda–Bordhormopur road. Jointly assigned to Messrs Madina Construction and Landmark Builders, this 8,440-meter-long project began five years ago. Locals say they’ve seen no benefit. Potholes dominate the road, and contractors have broken several culverts, disrupting drainage.
Fazlul Karim, a resident of Sreebidda, said, “Before August 5 last year, work was crawling. Then the contractors vanished. They dumped bricks three months ago, and rain has already ruined everything. For five years, this road has been a nightmare.”
Abdur Rouf (70), a senior citizen of Rajarkhola, added, “This project has become a tool for looting public funds. Fines are not enough. Legal action must be taken.”
In Muradpur, Abdul Baten said, “From the beginning, they used substandard materials. We protested, and the media reported it. But nothing changed. Now the suffering is even worse.”
Road repair corruption in Comilla has brought numerous firms under scrutiny. Here are some major fines:
Messrs Madina Construction & Landmark Builders (Joint): Tk 13,56,860
Messrs Fatema Traders & Polly Enterprise (Joint): Tk 15,48,480
Messrs M.A. Engineering: Tk 2,96,531
Jannat Construction Ltd (Faridpur): Tk 7,67,094
Pioneer Construction: Tk 16,30,384
Green-MK: Tk 16,01,139
Maisha Builders: Tk 10,04,724
MAAM Filament: Tk 7,70,818
High & Company: Tk 10,43,348
Ashraf Jamil, Senior Assistant Engineer at LGED Comilla, said, “These contractors have deprived thousands of people from essential communication. It’s not just technical failure—it’s a social crime. Fines are necessary, but legal measures must follow.”
