S.A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Development works in the Sylhet district have come to a standstill due to closure of transport facilities following non-stop blockade programme enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance.
As a result, prices of construction materials have increased causing disruptions in development and repairing works like roads, bridges, culverts, buildings etc. The concerned authorities of these sectors and contractors are sceptical over timely conclusion of the development works.
It has been known that except bricks, prices of other construction materials like sand, cement, rod, stone, and bitumen have increased to a certain extent as the transport fares have increased two times, while their supply has also faced disruptions.
Munaem Khan, cement trader at South Surma in Sylhet city, informed per tonne of rod has increased about Tk 1,000 to Tk 2,000 more than that of the previous times. Cement has increased Tk 10 to Tk 20 more per bag. But the companies, which have own transport systems, have not increased the price of their produce.
Contractor Tosir Ali said though the prices of construction materials have not increased in dealer level, their prices have increased to some extent due to hike in transport fare. He further said the price of per 1,000 pieces of bricks is now Tk 8,500 to Tk 9,000 without the transport fare. But in the previous year, it was Tk 6,500 to Tk 7,000. Without the transport fare, per tonne coal has now increased from Tk 8,000 to Tk 23,000. But though the price of stone has not increased, the transport fare in this connection has increased two times.
According to market sources, in Sylhet per cft stone is Tk 90 to Tk 100. The transport fare from there is Tk 40 to Tk 50 per cft stone; but now it has reached Tk 60 to Tk 70 per cft stone. Different government development works worth crores of taka under Water Development Board, Education Engineering Department, district administration, Public Health Engineering Department, and municipality have also been stopped since the start of the blockade programme.
Abul Kalam Azad, Executive Engineer of RHD in the district, said due to continuous blockade programme, different development works in the district have faced serious setback. Many development works may not be completed within the stipulated time, he apprehended.
Development works in the Sylhet district have come to a standstill due to closure of transport facilities following non-stop blockade programme enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance.
As a result, prices of construction materials have increased causing disruptions in development and repairing works like roads, bridges, culverts, buildings etc. The concerned authorities of these sectors and contractors are sceptical over timely conclusion of the development works.
It has been known that except bricks, prices of other construction materials like sand, cement, rod, stone, and bitumen have increased to a certain extent as the transport fares have increased two times, while their supply has also faced disruptions.
Munaem Khan, cement trader at South Surma in Sylhet city, informed per tonne of rod has increased about Tk 1,000 to Tk 2,000 more than that of the previous times. Cement has increased Tk 10 to Tk 20 more per bag. But the companies, which have own transport systems, have not increased the price of their produce.
Contractor Tosir Ali said though the prices of construction materials have not increased in dealer level, their prices have increased to some extent due to hike in transport fare. He further said the price of per 1,000 pieces of bricks is now Tk 8,500 to Tk 9,000 without the transport fare. But in the previous year, it was Tk 6,500 to Tk 7,000. Without the transport fare, per tonne coal has now increased from Tk 8,000 to Tk 23,000. But though the price of stone has not increased, the transport fare in this connection has increased two times.
According to market sources, in Sylhet per cft stone is Tk 90 to Tk 100. The transport fare from there is Tk 40 to Tk 50 per cft stone; but now it has reached Tk 60 to Tk 70 per cft stone. Different government development works worth crores of taka under Water Development Board, Education Engineering Department, district administration, Public Health Engineering Department, and municipality have also been stopped since the start of the blockade programme.
Abul Kalam Azad, Executive Engineer of RHD in the district, said due to continuous blockade programme, different development works in the district have faced serious setback. Many development works may not be completed within the stipulated time, he apprehended.
