Funding crisis stalls development projects in Dumuria

A funding shortfall in the Dumuria Upazila administration has left contractors without work orders for development projects worth Tk 17 million, placing dozens of infrastructure schemes at risk of suspension despite the completion of the tender process.

Officials said the upazila's development fund has been virtually exhausted, preventing authorities from issuing work orders for projects under the 2025-26 fiscal year. According to official meeting records, the development fund balance declined from Tk 71.53 million in July 2025 to just Tk 3,729 by May this year. As a result, 54 projects under seven tender packages, with an estimated value of Tk 8 million, remain stalled, while another Tk 9 million worth of schemes is still awaiting tender. The projects include road improvements, tube wells, mosques, temples, madrasas and educational institutions.

Dumuria Contractors' Welfare Association President Sheikh Shahinur Rahman said contractors had spent thousands of taka participating in the bidding process, but those selected through the lottery system have yet to receive work orders. Upazila Engineer Muhammad Darul Huda confirmed that although the tendering process had been completed in accordance with regulations, work orders could not be issued because of the shortage of funds.

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Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabita Sarkar said issuing work orders without adequate funding would leave the administration unable to pay contractors after project completion. Md Kamrul Islam Sardar, Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Khulna, also acknowledged that several projects had been delayed due to the depleted upazila development fund. Allegations in the report that development funds were previously spent to favour "special individuals" were made by unnamed sources and have not been independently verified.