Construction of this embankment at Patakhali in Koira upazila under Khulna district was completed on Saturday, much to the relief of over 30 thousand people of 13 villages in Dakkhin Bedkashi union who had remained marooned since collapse of the embankment during the onslaught of super cyclone Aila on May 25 in 2009.Photo: STAR

Untold sufferings of over 30,000 people of 13 villages in Dakkhin Bedkashi union under Koira upazila eased a lot as the construction work of Patakhali embankment was completed on Saturday afternoon.
The embankment collapsed due to furious tidal surges during cyclone Aila on May 25 in 2009.
Sohrab Ali Sana, lawmaker of Khulna-6 (Koira-Paikgacha), GM Mohsin Reza, chairman of Koira upazila, and UNO Abul Basher were present when the 180-metre-long embankment was declared complete.
Army-run Bangladesh Diesel Plant Limited on January 13 this year decided to build the embankment at a cost of Tk 17 crore and 90 lakh with technical assistance from Western Engineering Private Limited.
Members of Bangladesh Army, under guidance of Brigadier General Mostafa Aminul Islam, monitored and supervised the construction work.
Collapse of the embankment added to the untold sufferings of the people in Aila-hit areas as hundreds of acres of arable land went under saline water for long.
The marooned villagers, who volunteered at the site with armymen round-the-clock, finally have heaved a sigh of relief, said the lawmaker while briefing local journalists at Khulna Press Club VIP lounge yesterday.
Speaking to the newsmen, the chairman of the union accused a syndicate of contractors and a section of corrupt officials of Water Development Board (WDB) for making dilly-dally in finishing the job.
They did it as there was no scope for illegal monetary gain because of vigilance of the villagers, he said.
Farmer Abdul Bari Gazi said they wanted army to take up the job as the enlisted contractor of WDB had refused to work last year.
Bashir Ahmed, managing director of Western Engineering Private Limited, said they had worked relentlessly to complete the construction work of the embankment with utmost sincerity.
Meanwhile, an engineer of WDB said most modern technology had been used for the first time to complete the construction work within such a short time.