Nazrul Islam, Sirajganj: A local, powerful thieves syndicate and some individuals involved in this collaboration are encouraging the authorities to take action after a theft occurred very close to me in the Sayedabad area of Sirajganj, which is part of the SMC Joint Venture Western Part Package 2 (IHI) project. The common people were not happy with the garden-centric concept, so they supported the protest against the theft of materials in public so that no one could speak out and questions could be raised.

Finally, late at night last Thursday (July 10), the Siraj Sadar seat Tile Police apprehended two thieves from the project area. Subsequently, they were handed over to the authorities through the court.

The individuals involved are Boyab I, son of the Sobtare of Sayedabad Union Purba Mohanpurgaon, and Shah Alamfe, known as ‘Baka Pistol’, son of Al Amin.

Local technology, theft of construction materials, quality irregularities, and internal inefficiencies of the project have come under scrutiny following the initial phase of the IHI project. The owner of the goods train operates at night, during which numerous counterfeit trains are reported to be lost. There is a lack of security systems in certain types of projects.

According to the H office, the Japanese company (IHI) commenced work on a project involving a rail bridge and WD-5 at a designated information center in Sirajganj in 2021. The project is scheduled for completion by 2025.

As per the project documentation, in 1998, following the construction of the Jamuna Bridge over Jamuna Nagar, the north-west communication line was established. However, in 2008, the route was shortened due to cracks in the bridge. To address this issue, an initiative was launched to construct a railway upstream of the Yamuna Pal on March 3, 2020. The construction of the railway bridge commenced on November 29, 2021, with piling work for the pillars starting in March 2021.

The estimated cost of the project, initially set at Tk 9,000 crore, has escalated to Tk 16,780 crore 96 lakh after an increase of Tk 7 crore. Of this amount, 27 percent is funded domestically, 60 percent from external sources, and 72 percent from the International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The construction of this railway bridge, which is the largest in the country, is being undertaken by the Japanese company OTG in collaboration with IHI Joint Venture.

Residents express frustration that the project has failed to implement effective strategies to combat theft. Numerous individuals are frequently observed within the project area. A security supervisor associated with this group was once a victim of an assailant who protested against theft, which continues to draw criticism.

In this context, Sadar and reporters stated that they are disseminating news from various regions. Theft has escalated beyond a minor issue; we believe it is orchestrated by an organized syndicate. Legal measures will be pursued.

The project area serves the general public, and the engineering personnel employed there are calling for immediate enhancements to security to halt the thefts. The residents of Sirajganj are insisting on transparency in the project and the introduction of construction regulations.

Fahim Ahmed, the project coordinator, acknowledged the theft incidents and mentioned that, to date, three reports have been filed with the Jamuna Bridge West Police Station concerning the thefts, with two of these cases still active. Due to its remote location, preventing theft has proven challenging. The Sadar Police Station and West Police Station are maintaining constant vigilance in this matter.

We’ve heard about the theft before, said Al Fattah Md. Masudur Rahman, project director for the Jamuna Rail Bridge. Additionally, we have instructed the district SP to take appropriate action. We are unable to take immediate action because the government is not involved in the theft of this material. However, if the government take firm action, this can be prevented.