Widespread allegations of irregularities, corruption, and fund misappropriation have surfaced in a canal excavation project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi. Farmers from Tulatala and Angaria villages claim that the excavation of the Rarhibari canal was carried out superficially, ignoring government guidelines and resulting in misuse of allocated funds. The project, which includes 13 canal excavations and 3 embankment constructions with a total budget of Tk 36.5 million, allocated about Tk 5.245 million for the two canals in question.

Local farmers allege that instead of proper dredging, only minimal silt was removed, turning the canal into a narrow trench. They also reported that numerous fruit and forest trees were cut down, and the steep excavation of the banks risks collapse. Farmers say they have lost trees and will not benefit from irrigation or fish farming as expected.

In response, the canal excavation association’s president and the Rajapur Upazila Engineer denied the allegations, asserting that all work followed official schedules and was properly supervised.