Work on the construction of the Patuakhali central bus terminal has remained stalled since February last year as the contractor of the construction company reportedly abandoned the work in the face of threat from some extortionists.
   Work on the World Bank assisted project began in March, 2003 to be completed in three years at a cost of Tk 1.6 crore.
   An official of the construction firm named Khan and Sons, which got the work, said they were forced to abandon the work when some extortionists demanded a toll of Tk 25 lakh and threatened them. The official further said a band of people led by a local public leader came to the site of work on February 20 last year and demanded toll. Failing to get toll, these people looted equipment and stopped work, he noted adding ‘We could not even file a case in this connection under threat from them’.
   The firm left the site after completing 40 per cent work on the terminal till January, 2005 and taking running bills of Tk 60 lakh and 74 thousand.
   The Local Government Engineering Department of Patuakhali cancelled the contract of the firm as it failed to resume work despite several reminders.
   LGED prepared a new estimate of Tk 1.31 crore for completing the unfinished work of the terminal and invited tenders for the project. Though the last date for submitting tenders was fixed on April 14, not a single tender was dropped for unknown reasons.
   Meanwhile, the last date for completing the bus terminal also expired making its future uncertain. When contacted, the local LGED executive engineer said they were trying their best to complete the work.

Though work on the construction of the Lalon Shah Residential Hall of the Islamic University in Kushtia was completed about one and a half years ago, the university authorities have not been able to allot seat to students as its walls have developed numerous cracks.
   The plaster on the walls also started falling down soon after the completion of the hall for using low quality cement, it was alleged. The IU authorities have not allotted seat to the students in this hall fearing its collapse any time.
   A high official of the engineering department of the Islamic University said low quality of materials were used in the construction of the walls. He also blamed the design and placing of the walls for developing cracks. Work on the construction of the residential hall began in July, 2003 and it was completed in January last year at a cost of Tk three crore and 63 lakh.

The police recovered one snatched motor bike and a cell phone set from the Char area under Gongachara upazila in Rangpur on Wednesday noon.
   Some miscreants snatched them from UP chairman Mahabubur Rahman Chow-dhury. They also took away Tk 13 thousand from him.
   He said his rival group might have orchestrated the attack on attack him due to enmity over the possession of a canal.