Tk65 crore wasted on unplanned projects in Ctg City; all four now abandoned
Chattogram City Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam told TBS, “These projects might seem unplanned now. But we cannot say on what grounds they were initiated at the time...."
The vetiver grass, acclaimed worldwide for preventing soil erosion and landslides, was introduced to Chattogram in 2018 from Thailand. The Chattogram City Corporation planted it on the Mitha Pahar along Tigerpass Road at a cost of nearly Tk28 lakh.
The project was inaugurated by Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, with the aim of expanding it to other hills in the city. But it never saw the light of day. Despite a grand inauguration, Chattogram City Corporation later showed no interest in the initiative.
At one point, the project stalled due to a lack of funds. Today, Mitha Pahar has nothing but bushes and an abandoned building where the grass once grew.
The vetiver grass project is not the only example. Chattogram City Corporation launched at least four projects with similar publicity and fanfare – none of which came to fruition.
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Together, these projects account for an estimated waste of Tk65 crore, with no benefit to the public. Despite repeated wastage of public funds through such negligence, no one has been held accountable. No action has been taken against anyone for this massive squandering of taxpayers' money.
Besides the vetiver grass project, the failed ventures include the Mariners Bypass Road from Bahaddarhat to the Karnaphuli River, a swimming pool and gymnasium at UN Park, and a foot overbridge with escalators on Zakir Hossain Road. Of these, two were never used, and the other two are now effectively abandoned.
Engineer Subash Barua, vice-president of the Planned Chattogram Forum, told The Business Standard, "There's no provision to take direct action against the engineers or bureaucrats involved in these projects. Alongside officials and politicians, some professionals are also complicit.
"They don't care whether a project will benefit the public – as long as they get their share of the funds. Even after the bloodshed of the 2024 movement, no system of accountability has been established. Until we break free from this culture, there is no hope for us. The people involved must be held accountable, and citizens must protest these failures."
No vehicles on Mariners Road
Approved by ECNEC in 2010, the Mariners Bypass Road project aimed to ease waterlogging and traffic congestion in the city. The planned road was 3.25km long, with an estimated budget of over Tk57 crore. But only 1.5km was completed. The road now ends behind a building near Baraipara, disconnected from any main road, rendering it completely unused by vehicles.
Tk4 crore swimming pool now a park again
In 2012, a swimming pool and gymnasium were built at the UN Park (now July Smriti Udyan) at a cost of Tk4 crore. Completed in June 2015, each of the two pools is 120 feet long and 50 feet wide. A 7,000 square feet gymnasium building was also constructed, though it lacked any exercise equipment.
Locals opposed the project from the start. In 2016, amid controversy over its unplanned construction, then mayor AJM Nasir Uddin attempted to lease the park for 25 years to a private company named Elite Park Limited. But the move was blocked by then housing and public works minister Mosharraf Hossain and the Panchlaish Residential Society. A High Court writ eventually halted the commercialisation plan.
Subsequently, the two pools and gymnasium were declared "unsuitable" without ever being used. The structures were demolished, and a green park was built in their place at a cost of Tk12 crore.
Tk4 crore foot overbridge abandoned
Built in 2020 for Tk4 crore, the foot overbridge with escalators on Zakir Hossain Road has a story no less dramatic. At the time of launch, it was announced the bridge would operate from 8am to 8pm. Though escalators were installed on both sides for going up, only regular stairs were provided for going down.
The bridge functioned for just two months before falling into disuse. A recent visit revealed broken machinery, rusted parts, and garbage strewn across the stairs. The entire structure lies abandoned.
Chattogram City Corporation's Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam told TBS, "These projects might seem unplanned now. But we cannot say on what grounds they were initiated at the time. This serves as a lesson for us. Any project of public importance must be designed through research and with input from stakeholders – otherwise, the benefits remain elusive."
Repeated attempts to contact the corporation's urban planner Abdullah Al Omar and chief engineer Md Anisur Rahman Sohel went unanswered.
