Sirajganj panics at dam collapse

Bad news before Eid for Sirajganj, as the dam protecting the town has collapsed following powerful high tides in the Jamuna river.

District administration, Bangladesh Army soldiers and thousands of locals has got down to saving the town.

But Sirajganj Water Development Board Executive Engineer Sajidul Islam Sarder says the Jamuna has already washed away 100 meters of the dam's structure.

Police personnel, public representatives and leaders of political parties rushed to the spot as the threat build up since 3am early on Thursday.

Water evelopment Board (WDB) officials could not be seen at the spot at that time.

Deputy Commissioner Bellal Hossain said a team from the army's 98th brigade of army reached the spot around 7am and started repairing the dam.

Prime Minister Office's DG (PAD) Kabir Bin Anwar also reached the spot and vented his anger publicly at why the dam was not repaired in good time before much damage.

He promised an investigation into the incident.

“A committee will investigate whether the contractor was inactive.”

Kamrul Hasan Hilton, a regular WDB contractor, admitted to inaction.

He said, ”We face so much problems receiving payments for emergency works. That’s why contractors are not interested in these works.”

The Tk 3 billion dam was built in the 1995-2000 fiscal to protect the town from Jamuna river.

Another Tk 1.5 billion was spent to make repairs on it in several phases.