Residents and traders of Tongi have issued a stern warning that all vehicular movement along the Tongi–Abdullahpur route will be stopped if a permanent RCC bridge over the Turag River is not constructed soon.
They called upon the interim government to immediately start the bridge’s construction to resolve the ongoing transport crisis.
The declaration came during a press conference held on Wednesday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium.
Haji Abdus Sattar spoke on behalf of the local traders and residents, while Rashedul Islam Kiran, founding president of Tongi Thana BNP, and people from different walks of life were present. After the press conference, they also held a human chain protest in front of DRU.
Abdus Sattar said that Tongi Bazar, a century-old business hub, is a key marketplace serving areas within 20 to 50 kilometers.
The demolition of two existing RCC bridges over the Turag River during the unplanned construction of the BRT flyover has caused severe hardship to traders, commuters, students, and elderly citizens.
He said the lack of an alternative route has made daily movement between Tongi and Uttara extremely difficult.
“Even patients are dying on the way to hospitals in Uttara due to travel delays,” he lamented.
Residents also reported frequent muggings and fatal accidents on the new flyover, calling it unsafe for public use.
Despite repeated appeals, no action has been taken, Sattar said. Applications were submitted to several authorities — including the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, Gazipur City Corporation, LGED, BIWTA, and Roads and Highways Department — but none responded.
“If the government does not take immediate steps to construct the bridge, we will stage protests on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway and suspend all traffic between Dhaka and North Bengal,” warned the speakers.
They also noted that the Bishwa Ijtema, the second-largest Muslim congregation, is held annually on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi. Many elderly and physically weak devotees attend the event, making a low-level RCC bridge essential for their safe and easy movement.
AU/BP
