Probe ordered into soil excavation beside Padma rail bridge

Soil is allegedly being excavated and sold to brick kilns from beneath a pillar of the Padma Rail Bridge in Aliganj, Narayanganj's Fatullah, prompting concerns among local residents about the safety of the structure.

A video recently went viral on social media, showing soil being excavated near a bridge pillar. Railway officials stated they were unaware of the activity, while the railway's estate department clarified that it does not authorise such excavations.

Locals alleged that former union parishad member Abubakkar and his associates have been cutting and selling soil from the base of the pillar after showing a document claiming they had permission.

Sources at the Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner's Office said the viral video came to the attention of the deputy commissioner, who immediately instructed the Narayanganj Sadar upazila administration to investigate the matter.

Narayanganj Sadar UNO SM Fayez Uddin said he sent the assistant commissioner (land) of Fatullah to the site following the deputy commissioner's directive. Railway officials were also present during the visit.

"The individuals involved presented a document asserting that they had received approval to excavate the soil," he stated.

Fatullah Assistant Commissioner (Land) Asaduzzaman said those carrying out the work claimed they had received a work order from the Chinese company involved in the project and that the excavation was part of construction activities.

"As controversy has arisen over the issue, we have instructed them to stop the work for now," he said.

Shimul Kumar Saha, divisional estate officer of Bangladesh Railway's Dhaka Division, said the railway never permits such soil cutting.

"If anyone has shown an approval document, it may be fake or needs to be verified," he said.