Majid Sons and Construction, the controversial contractor in the case of Ruppur Balishkand and the collapse of the building under construction in Rajshahi University, is working in Rajshahi metropolis at a cost of around Tk 550 crore. This includes the construction of one of the longest flyovers of the Rajshahi City Corporation. The question has been raised about how safe the construction of the 1.2 km flyover will be with the institution which has been accused of corruption, irregularities and laxity in most of its works, including the use of low-quality construction materials.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raided the campus on Sunday afternoon to search for documents related to the contractor’s work in connection with the collapse of the under-construction building of Majid Sons in Rajshahi University. At that time, they interrogated the various departments and officials related to the construction of the building, including the registrar of the university, and wanted to see the necessary documents. The concerned persons of the contracting organization were interrogated. ACC Rajshahi District Deputy Director Md. Moniruzzaman said that an investigation is being started to find out how Majid Sons Construction got the construction work in Rajshahi University and how they are doing the work. Legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty in connection with the collapse of the under-construction building of the university.
Majid Sons Construction Limited, a contracting firm located in Mohakhali New DOHS of the capital, is working on four important institutions in Rajshahi worth Tk 547 crore. The projects include – Construction of 10-storey building at Rajshahi Wasa at a cost of Tk 44.16 crore, 10-storey mechanical engineering building at a cost of Tk 66 crore at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Institute building at a cost of Tk 64.4 crore, Tk 153 crore at Rajshahi University. Construction of 20-storey Central Science Building, 10-storey AHM Kamaruzzaman Hall at a cost of Tk 63 crore, construction of a flyover at a cost of Tk 79 crore in Rajshahi City Corporation area, construction of Shalbagan raw market at a cost of Tk 41.48 crore and Bhadra market at a cost of Tk 36.70 crore. .
Rajshahi City Corporation’s ‘Majidpreeti’
On February 18, 2020, the National Economic Council Executive Committee (ECNEC) meeting approved a project titled ‘Integrated Urban Development of Rajshahi Metropolis’ worth about Tk 3,000 crore. There are 107 types of work in this project. Among them construction of five flyovers in the city. The process of designing the flyovers and appointing consultants was completed that year. Last year, Majid Sons Construction got the job of constructing a 1 km 255 meter long flyover in Varnali Mor, Bandhgate and Billisimla railway crossing areas of the city. Recently, the contractor has started the construction of this flyover at a cost of 79 crore rupees.
According to multiple sources of Rajshahi City Corporation, there was pressure from the beginning of the bidding process to give the construction of the longest flyover to Majid Sons Construction. Majid Sons Construction has previously received various works in Rajshahi University, Ruet and Wasa with the special interest of an influential circle. Apart from City Corporation flyover, construction of Shalbagan raw market at a cost of Tk 41.48 crore and Bhadra market at a cost of Tk 36.70 crore was also given to Majid Sons Construction.
In 2019, Majid Sons first came into discussion with the pillow case. Allegations were made against the company that there was corruption and irregularities in the procurement of furniture for the residential buildings of Rooppur nuclear power project in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna. There, the news of spending 6 thousand 717 rupees on a pillow was published in the media and this incident became known as ‘Pillow corruption’. The market price of a pillow in the country ranges from Tk 250 to Tk 300. But under the scheme, the price of each pillow is shown to be around 20 times the market price.
Then last February, part of the roof of Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman dormitory under construction by Majid Sons Construction in Rajshahi University collapsed. This section was 30 feet high and 69 feet wide. Then complaints were raised that special quality shuttering was required for this complex work but it was not provided. Apart from this, the required time for setting of concrete after casting of columns and beams is also not given. Recasting is started before the cast has hardened. This negligence of the contractor was then discussed throughout the country.
Rajshahi City Corporation is still trusting that institution after these incidents, Chief Engineer of Rasik said. Noor Islam said, the government has not blacklisted them. So we have nothing to do.
Influential leader behind the scenes
Majid Sons was given a work order for the construction of a 10-storey building in Rajshahi Wasa at a cost of Tk 44.16 crore in June 2022. There was a talk about getting this job. Multiple sources at WASA said that there was pressure on them from the beginning of the tender process to award the work to Majid Sons. An influential leader of the government party and his wife had a special interest in making this institution work.
Project director (PD) of Wasa building under construction. Mahabubur Rahman said that the rod they wanted to use for mat welding in 2023 is not a PWD approved rod. On examination, it was found that the quality of that rod is much lower than the standard set by PWD. Since then the work period has been extended twice due to laxity on the part of the contractor. According to Wasa sources, due to the presence of influential leaders in the background, the negligence of Majid Sons made them feel embarrassed to take direct action.
According to a source of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Majid Sons and Construction got two construction works here too under the pressure of an influential central leader of the government party. The then Vice-Chancellor is accused of following the orders of the leader and his family in the recruitment and contract work in this campus. Later, the ACC also started an investigation against the former vice-chancellor.
According to multiple sources of Rajshahi University, the construction work of Shaheed Kamaruzzaman residential hall was also given to Majid Sons Construction during the tenure of controversial former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdus Sobhan on the orders of that influential central leader of Awami League. Since the start of the work, various complaints have been raised against the contractor.
