The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has carried out development work worth about Tk. 30,000 crore across the country during the tenure of the present government, which is almost double the amount spent during the BNP-Jamaat government’s (2001-2006) rule. The LGED implemented development work worth Tk. 14,061 crore during the BNP-Jamaat government, according to an LGED report. The report said in the current fiscal the LGED will implement development projects worth Tk. 10,000 crore, which will be financed both by the government and development partners.
Talking to The Independent, the LGED’s chief engineer, Md Wahidur Rahman, said his department has been carrying out project work in coordination with the government and following its approved Master Plan. “As part of the Master Plan, the LGED has been implementing its year-wise plan to construct roads of different categories within 2021,” he added.
Claiming that there has been incredible development, particularly in rural areas, the chief engineer said it is now engaged in
implementing a total of 73 infrastructure development projects in different parts of the country.
Wahidur Rahman said the LGED carried out development work of Tk. 14,061 crore during the previous government’s tenure, while the department carried out development work worth Tk. 29,468 crore during the present government’s tenure.
A copy of the LGED development work was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. According to the report, the LGED constructed approach roads of about 5,000 bridges and culverts. Most of the roads and culverts built during the BNP-Jamaat government were not suitable for use for various reasons. Under the directive of the Prime Minister, the LGED took the initiative to build the approach roads of the bridges and culverts to make those usable, said the report.
It said the LGED implemented development work of Tk. 4,679 crore in the fiscal year 2008-2009 after the present government assumed power.
In 2012-2013, the LGED implemented a total of 105 projects worth Tk. 8,370 crore. Of this, Tk. 5,738 crore were spent on different infrastructure development, while Tk. 760 crore were spent on road maintenance. The government approved 23 new projects at a cost of Tk. 9,254 crore in the same year, of which the contribution of development partners was 5,743 crore, the report said.
The report further said that the LGED built 6,639 km of roads and 27,057 metres of bridge and culverts during 2012-2013. Besides, 3,600 metres of bridge and culverts were repaired and 23,037 km of roads were maintained. A total of 1,160 haat-bazars and 67 union and three upazila buildings were built.
A total of 57,140 female workers had also been rehabilitated in society, the report added. The LGED achieved major success in regularising appointments of about 3,000 officials and employees who were working on no-work no-pay basis over the years. Of them, 340 were appointed as first class officers, 846 as second class, 1,515 as third class and 260 as fourth class employees. Most of the 328 pending cases relating to appointments were also disposed of during the present government’s tenure, the report said.
The report mentioned that work on the 8.25 km Maghbazar-Mouchak flyover and the 750-metre Khilgaon flyover is in progress. Besides, the LEGD implemented the Hatirjheel Coordinated Development Project in the city with the help of the Bangladesh Army.
-With The Independent input
