The parliamentary standing committee on communication yesterday blamed Korean construction firm Hyundai for the cracks that had developed on the Jamuna Bridge, and directed the bridge authority to realise compensations from the company.
The parliamentary watchdog committee also admitted that some people affiliated with ruling Awami League are involved in manipulating the process of government business tenders across the country.
“Hyundai is responsible for the cracks developed on Jamuna Bridge, there were flaws in their design and construction, we’ve asked the Jamuna Bridge Authority to realise compensation from Hyundai,” SK Muzibur Rahman, chairman of the committee told reporters after a committee meeting yesterday in the parliament building.
“We’ve also asked the bridge authority to file cases, if Hyundai refuses to pay the compensations,” added Muzibur.
“Hyundai was responsible for designing and constructing the bridge, they can’t now avoid their responsibility,” the committee chief told The Daily Star.
Hyundai had been supposed to take liability of the bridge for 10 years, but the time was reduced to two years, we therefore asked the bridge authority how that could happen,” Muzibur said.
He also blasted Hyundai for not properly following the insurance agreements for the bridge.
“You will be surprised to know that they made an insurance, but the government has been paying the premium,” he said.
After a recent investigation, the bridge authorities said faulty design, negligence in construction, overloaded vehicles on the bridge, and trains running over it could be the reasons for the cracks on the bridge.
The investigation found cracks at 62 out of 1,262 segment joints.
The bridge authority also said it was thinking about taking action against the Korean construction firm, if it was found guilty of negligence in construction.
Hyundai built the bridge at a cost of Tk 4,000 crore, with an expected service life of 100 years. The bridge was opened to public in 1998.
The authorities are concerned as several cracks developed within just 10 years of its operation. They fear the lifespan of the bridge could drop to 20-25 years if necessary steps are not taken immediately.
About the tender manipulation and the concomitant violence across the country, the committee expressed concerns.
“We’ve asked lawmakers to look into the matter in respective constituencies and to stop it,” Muzibur told reporters.
“We will ask law enforces to take legal actions against those who are behind the tender violence,” he added.
“If necessary the responsible party people will be expelled from the party, and will be handed over to the police,” he said.
“We will ask the government to make a provision for keeping tender boxes in four to five places, so none may establish hegemony over those,” said Omar Faruk Chowdhury, another member of the committee
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