Soil cutting beneath the pillars of the Padma rail bridge in Fatullah, Narayanganj, has been stopped and trees will be planted there instead, according to Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping and Railways.

The minister said this in answer to a question at a press conference in the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat on Tuesday, 16 June.

Asked about soil being taken from beneath the Padma rail line in Fatullah, Sheikh Rabiul Alam said: "As far as I know, it is not the case that this soil was dug out. When the bridge was built, some obstacles were left; you will see small barriers are made. Soil was removed from there, and it was removed out of necessity. But it now seems this removal is not being seen in another light, not being seen positively."

The minister said there is extra soil as part of construction, and it had not been removed for a long time. Because it was a little raised, some items had been stolen, or were about to be stolen, using ladders from there. Considering everything, the extra soil was removed to help the construction work.

"We have stopped it and decided to plant trees there. Trees will be planted there," he said.

Photos and videos of soil being cut from beneath the Padma rail bridge pillars in Fatullah had spread on social media, drawing criticism.

Asked whether there was any decision to change the Bhanga-Payra rail route, the minister said: "A feasibility test has been done. At the moment we have no plan to change the alignment. The feasibility study followed the earlier alignment, and the project we are about to take up is proceeding on that basis. We see no need to change the alignment, and we see no such demand either."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.