Contractors of Rajshahi Water Development Board (WDB) under the banner of ‘WDB Contractors Welfare Parishad’ on Wednesday formed a human chain demanding their arrear bills.
The contractors at the programme informed that Tk 750 crore of nearly 50 contractors under WDB of eight districts under Rajshahi division for various project work, remains outstanding.
The contractors spent the money from their own funds and borrowing from others and they are now exhausted by not receiving their bills for a long time.
As a result, they are now leading miserable and inhuman life, even many of them do not have enough money to maintain their families.
Presided over by Tapan Sen, Adviser to WDB Contractors’ Welfare Parishad, the programme was addressed, among others, by Jamat Khan, convener of the organisation and Assistant Organising Secretary of the organisation Golam Nabi Rony.
Jamat Khan at the programme said, “To save the houses and land threatened by river erosion, the contractors made or repaired the embankments on an emergency basis without considering the price of the construction materials. But, after finishing the work, the contractors seem to fall in utter disappointment by not receiving their bills in due time.”
He further said the WDB Rajshahi owes Tk 750 crore to nearly 50 contractors.
He added if the arrear bills are not paid in a short time, a further tough programme will be announced in this connection.
After the programme, the contractors met with the Chief Engineer of WDB, Rajshahi, Zahirul Islam and the Executive Engineer Arifur Rahman Ankur and handed them over a memorandum claiming the payment of the arrear bills of the contractors.
Executive Engineer Arifur Rahman Ankur in this connection said, “WDB Rajshahi is trying to allocate funds for the projects. All related documents in this regard have also been sent to the WDB Ministry.
It is getting a bit of late to receive the fund as all were busy during the elections.
He, however, the hope to get the fund soon and then would be able to repay Tk 150 to 170 crore in a short time.'