Sylhet Bureau

Over a hundred villagers in Tahirpur, Sunamganj, held a human chain near the under-construction Jadukata Bridge, demanding the swift completion of its construction on Monday. 

Presided over by retired teacher Pabitra Roy, the event saw participation from over a thousand people. Speakers emphasized that the bridge, vital for facilitating travel across Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, and Mymensingh, is crucial for boosting tourism, trade, socio-economic development, and border security. They stated that completing the unfinished construction has become a public demand.  

The construction of the 750-meter-long bridge, overseen by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), began in December 2018 under a contract with Tama Construction for Tk85.99 crore. Despite four extensions, as of June 2025, only 70% of the work is complete, while the contractor has already withdrawn over 78% of the funds, amounting to Tk64.99 crore—over Tk10 crore more than justified by the progress. Citing various excuses, the contractor has now halted work.  

Speakers noted that all pillars were completed a year ago, 12 out of 15 spans have been finished, and 60 out of 75 girders are done. However, 15 girders and 3 spans remain incomplete. They accused Tama Construction of negligence and LGED of irresponsibility, pointing out that despite a 2.5-year completion agreement, the bridge remains unfinished after seven years. The contractor has reportedly abandoned the site, leaving the work incomplete.  

The speakers urged authorities to address the contractor’s negligence and LGED’s oversight, demanding immediate action to resume and complete the bridge construction to alleviate public suffering and unlock the region’s potential.