Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Thousands of people from 15 villages along with various small and big goods passenger vehicles travel daily through three narrow bridges out of the 4, which are connected to Chengatli, Baghairampur, Gopalpur and Jiarkandi-Majidpur and Nagerchar villages of upazila Jiarkandi Union.

Complaints have been made by the common people that the busiest people are moving through these bridges risking their lives. Due to the lack of monitoring by the concerned authorities to solve this problem, the residents have complained about it. Due to the collapse of the old castings of the bridges, many vehicles are constantly moving over these narrow bridges with the risk of breaking the iron plates somewhere.

Major accidents can happen at any moment. Also, as the bridges are narrow, the vehicles and pedestrians coming from both sides have to stand and suffer while crossing, the locals said.

Locals also said that for about a century and a half, the bridges have been lying in this condition. If they are not repaired on an urgent basis, they can collapse at any time.

On the other hand, the local residents including the vehicle drivers have demanded to demolish three narrow bridges and construct new bridges. On the surface, it was seen that the railings on both sides of the road bridge of Baghairampur village built by LGED were broken, only the rods were somehow hanging. Chengatli ex-member Siddique's house adjacent to the house bridge is also in the same situation. No side railings, no medium sized vehicles like private cars, micros can pass.

The wheel climbs over the railing. The road bridge adjacent to Gopalpur Hindupara is in dire condition. There is no railing on both sides. Only the rods survive. The vehicles are running dangerously on the iron pavement. The cement of the bridge's pillars collapsed and the rods came out. Bridges vibrate when a light or heavy vehicle is lifted.

On the other hand, the bridge connecting Gopalpur and Chandnagerchar is a little wide, but heavy vehicles can move, but the pitch of the bridge has gone up and numerous ditches have been created. Auto driver Iqbal also said that there are minor accidents even when the vehicles are moving slowly over the bridge in Ekron. Apart from this, as there are no lights on the road, passengers and vehicles may die in accidents at night, the local residents and related victims complain.

Ziarkandi Union Parishad Chairman Haji Ali Ashraf said that our allocation is less. Bridge work is not possible with this. Besides, it is LGED's work, not mine. Bridges should be rebuilt, not repaired.
Khair, a local social worker, said that numerous vehicles and people move over the dangerous bridges every day.

Apart from this, various types of vehicles including ambulances, police pickups, vehicles carrying school and college students are running at risk of life. That's why we always have to be in fear. What happens when the bridge breaks.

Upazila Prakouli said in this regard. When talking to Mozammel Haque, he said that we do not have any allocation at the moment. New bridges will be constructed in place of vulnerable bridges in phases when the allocation comes.