Md Uzzal Rahman, Jhalakathi

There is no canal on either side, yet a bridge has been built. Another new complication is that there are houses on either side of the bridge. As a result, the construction of the connecting road may block the passage of some families.

According to sources from the Executive Engineer's Office of LGED Jhalakati, a 10-meter long RCC slab bridge has been constructed under the BDIRWSP project in Godanda area of Subidpur Union on the Fultala RHD road via Manpasha GC-Taltala-Bhabanipur to Nachanmahal Union road. Tk 3 crore 79 lakh 54 thousand 313 96 paisa has been allocated for this construction work. The contractor is implementing the work, MS Islam Brothers. The work was supposed to start on February 7, 2024 and end on November 18, 2025. In the meantime, a bill of Tk 74 lakh 16 thousand 179 has been paid to the contractor.

According to local sources, the bridge has been built at a place where there was previously a box culvert over a small canal. Currently, the canal is practically closed due to the construction of a slab bridge there. If a connecting road is built to make the bridge operational, there is a fear that the movement of some families nearby will be blocked.

Locals complain that the bridge was built without proper planning. Now, if the connecting road is built, several families may be affected.

Victims Abbas Hawlader, Morsheda Begum, Jamal, Sabuj said, "If this bridge is to be opened, we will have to take the road in front of our house. This will stop our movement. We want a solution to this."

Meanwhile, there are allegations among locals that the project's officer-in-charge (SO), Deputy Assistant Engineer Moinul Azam, committed irregularities in collusion with the contracting company and District Awami League treasurer Monirul Islam Talukder.

However, Deputy Assistant Engineer Moinul Azam denied the allegations and said, "I have not committed any irregularities. Alternative transportation arrangements will be made for the affected families."

In this regard, Upazila Engineer Azizul Haque said, "The bridge has been built on the site of an earlier culvert. There have been some complications regarding the matter, but we are already reviewing the matter. Necessary measures will be taken on how to build the connecting road without harming the locals."