Md Russel Mia, Amtali (Barguna) Correspondent.

Thousands of people have formed a human chain demanding the construction of a girder bridge at a place near Khekuani Bazar on the Amragachhia River in Amtoli Upazila of Barguna. The program was held at around 11:30 am on Friday (October 30) to demand the construction of a girder bridge in place of the iron bridge.

As the bridge has been unsafe and unfit for traffic for a long time, farmers in Gulishakhali and Kukua unions have been facing difficulties in transporting and marketing their agricultural products. Farmers are facing losses, especially due to problems in transporting watermelons.

According to local sources, the Amragachhia River, a branch of the fast-flowing Payra River, divides the Gulishakhali, Kukua and Atharogachhia unions of Amtoli upazila. The lives and livelihoods of at least one lakh people of the three unions are linked to this river. At one time, more than 10 fishing boats used to ply the river.

In 2001, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) constructed an iron bridge in the area adjacent to Khekuani Bazar. However, there are allegations of irregularities in the construction work. Locals claim that in 2010, just nine years after construction, the beam of the bridge bent and the bridge collapsed. Even then, at least 50,000 people from Gulishakhali and Kukua unions have been crossing the bridge for the past 16 years, risking their lives.

In 2020, LGED declared the bridge too risky and closed it to traffic. Farmers were the worst affected. The inability to transport and market agricultural produce also negatively impacted business and commerce in Khekuani Market.

Locals claim that at least 500 million taka worth of watermelons are produced in Gulishakhali Union every year. But as vehicles carrying watermelons cannot pass through the bridge, wholesale buyers do not want to come to the area. As a result, farmers are facing problems in marketing the watermelons they produce and are facing financial losses.

Thousands of people took part in a human chain demanding the construction of a girder bridge in place of the Iron Bridge on Friday. Former joint convener of Amtoli Upazila BNP Md. Tofazzel Howlader presided over the event. Md. Delwar Munshi, lecturer Faruk Hossain, Mosharraf Hossain Molla, Kabir Panchayat, Momen Akon, Mostafa Gharami and UP member Chattar Mia among others spoke.

Speakers at the human chain said that the iron bridge was built in Khekuani Bazar in 2001 to alleviate the suffering of the people. But due to irregularities in the construction work, the bridge became useless within a short time. Five years ago, LGED declared the bridge useless and stopped traffic. This has almost stopped the transportation and marketing of agricultural products.

The speakers also said that although watermelon worth about 500 million taka is produced in Gulishakhali Union every year, it is not possible for vehicles loaded with watermelons to cross due to the bridge. As a result, wholesale buyers are not coming and watermelon farmers are facing losses. They demanded the construction of a girder bridge quickly to alleviate the suffering of at least 50,000 people of Gulishakhali and Kukua Unions and facilitate the transportation of agricultural products.

Engineer Md. Idris Mia of the Amtali Upazila Local Government Engineering Department said, "A girder bridge will be constructed soon at the site of the iron bridge at Khekuani Bazar on the Amragachia River. A proposal for the construction of the bridge has already been sent and design work is underway."