Sylhet Bureau

A steel bridge constructed by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) at a cost of several crores of taka collapsed after being hit by a truck loaded with stolen mineral sand.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at Sajanar Haor on the Anwarpur–Sunamganj’s Niamatpur road, under the Bishwambharpur section in Tahirpur, Sunamganj.

Local people from Tahirpur–Bishwambharpur confirmed the bridge collapse around 11:30 AM on Monday.

According to locals, stolen mineral sand is regularly extracted illegally from the unleased border rivers Jadukata–Dhopajan, bypassing government rates, VAT, and taxes. This sand is dumped and later loaded onto large steel-bodied trawlers (bulkheads) anchored in Bishwambharpur's waterway, from where it is transported to different parts of the country.

As part of this ongoing practice, a truck carrying stolen mineral sand was being moved during the night on Sunday. In the early hours of Monday, the overloaded truck collided with the steel bridge at Sajanar Haor — built for vehicular and public movement — causing the bridge to collapse.

At 11 AM on Monday, Montu Das, a local UP member of Fatehpur Union in Bishwambharpur, said that about 15 years ago, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) constructed the steel bridge on the road adjacent to Sajanar Haor using substandard materials and equipment. The bridge, built at a cost of several crores, was a rushed job. Following its collapse early Monday morning, all traffic and public movement on the Anwarpur–Niamatpur road came to a halt, resulting in public suffering.

After the bridge collapse, the truck driver, helper, and several laborers on the truck fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle.

OC  of Bishwambharpur Police Station Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman said that they have not yet been able to identify the truck, its driver, helper, laborers, or the owner of the stolen mineral sand involved in the accident.

Dr. Mohammad Ahad Ullah, Executive Engineer of the Sunamganj Roads and Highways Department, said, "We are aware of the bridge collapse. Once the truck is removed, the bridge will need to be repaired again."