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People suffer as collapsed bridge not rebuilt in 4 yrs


Bangladeshpost
Published : 15 Sep 2019 08:40 PM | Updated : 03 Sep 2020 01:59 PM

Sabera Jharna, Sarankhola (Bagerhat)

Hundreds of people of Sarankhola upazila in Bagerhat have been suffering as a bridge in front of Sarankhola Upazila Parishad collapsed four years back, but it has not been rebuilt until now. 

Due to lack of reconstruction of the collapsed 80-metre long bridge, the people including schoolchildren are crossing the water-body behind by boats, risking their lives. Even, those who are reluctant to ride on boats, have to traverse two-kilometre long way to reach the destinations at upazila headquarters.

According to sources, at the cross road of Rayenda Sadar and Khontakata union, an iron bridge on the canal collapsed on August 19 in 2015 causing plights of hundreds of people of both sides of the bridge. Habitations including Upazila Parishad office, TT and DC Government Primary School are situated at the southern part of the bridge while Upazila Livestock Office, a government primary school, a women’s Dakhil Madrasha, an orphanage with human habitations are situated at the northern part. 

After the collapse of the bridge, people have been using boats to cross the canal for several months. Later on, a temporary bamboo bridge was constructed there but that also broke a year ago. As a result, now boats are being used to ferry the people once again.

People living in adjacent villages of Khada, Malia, South Rajapur, North Rajapur, Rasulpur, Bholarpar, Sonatola, and Uttar Tafalbaria have to visit regularly to Sarankhola Upazila Parishad office for various official jobs and purchase and sale of goods from the nearby market.  

On the other hand, students of schools and madrashas of the opposite areas have to cross the canal on boats to attend classes. They cannot bring their cattle herds to government livestock office for treatment. People living in surrounding areas have demanded to higher authorities to rebuild the bridge immediately to remove sufferings of the people.

Chandan Kumar Chakravarty, Upazila Engineer of Saronkhola informed, a project proposal to rebuild an 80-meter long RCC bridge has been sent to the head office of LGED but that has not yet been approved. The work of reconstruction of the bridge will be started as soon as the project is approved, he further said.