Illegal sand piling by the Dhaka-Agartala International Highway in Brahmanbaria led to about 120-feet stretch of the highway to collapse into the Titas River early on Monday.
Three sand traders including a local Awami League leader are to pay for the repair of the highway with Tk17 lakh as they were held responsible for the collapse by the authorities .
Upon the order of Anisul Huq-- the lawmaker from Brahmanbaria-4 (Kasba-Akhaura)-- the accused sand traders were brought to the Upazila Parishad office where papers had been signed regarding the matter around 11pm on Monday.
The accused sand traders are Nahid Shohag, 38, organizing secretary of Sadar upazila unit Awami League, his associates Shanu Khalifa, 45, and Hasan Khalifa, 32.
Akhaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tahmina Akhter Reina said: "The sand pile was shifted as soon as we heard that the road had collapsed. Then it was decided that the contractors (accused sand traders) would compensate with Tk17 lakh upon the demand of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD). RHD will do the repair work."
The accused AL leader Abu Nahid Shohag said: "The UNO called us at her office about discussing the matter. We wanted to fix the road and estimated that the cost would be Tk4 lakh to Tk5 lakh, but the RHD showed a budget of TK17 lakh."
Nahid alleged: "Not only because of sand pressure but the road had also collapsed due to low quality work and rain water. But now all the blame has been put on our shoulders. We will have to sustain a great deal of financial loss because of this."
