SM Sahidul Islam, Satkhira

The bent bridge of Budhhata union collapsed in January 2022 during the excavation of Morichchap river in Asashuni upazila of Satkhira. But even after two years, the bridge was not removed. Even there no new bridge construction initiative has been taken. Millions of people in three upazilas of the district are suffering greatly.

Locals said that the Bankra Bridge was built by the Directorate of Disaster Management, but that road is now under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). Due to the lack of coordination between these two government agencies, it is not possible to take alternative measures to remove the bridge or move it. Both organizations blame each other.

On investigation, it was found that the bridge was constructed on the Morichchap river in the financial year 2016-17 in the Bankra area of Budhhata union of Asashuni upazila. The 60 feet long bridge was constructed by the Directorate of Disaster Management at a cost of Tk around 55 lakhs. Then the bridge suddenly collapsed in January 2022 during the excavation of the Mirichhap river.

Haradhan Chandra of Kamalkati village of Asashuni said that the people of Sobhnali and Budhhata of Asashuni upazila, Fingri of Sadar upazila and Champaful union of Kaliganj upazila travel through this bridge. The bridge suddenly collapsed in the middle of January 2022 during the excavation of Marichachap river. As a result, the movement of people in three upazilas was stopped.

The people of these three upazilas have to travel about ten kilometers by crossing Asashuni or Sadar's Bangdah bridge. It costs money as well as time. It has been almost two and a half years since the bridge collapsed. But it has not been removed till now. No initiative has even been taken to build a new bridge there. We have to suffer a lot because of this. He urgently demanded to remove this broken bridge and construct a new bridge there.

In this regard, LGED Satkhira Executive Engineer Md. Kamruzzaman said that the bridge was built by the Directorate of Disaster Management. They are also supposed to remove it after it collapses. But till date the Disaster Management Department has not removed the bridge. Even did not take any alternative measures for public movement. The matter has been reported to higher authorities. Further action will be taken if the order comes from there.

Asashuni Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Roni Alam Noor said that the upazila administration is making every effort to remove the bridge and build a new bridge there. In the meantime, the site inspection and preliminary survey has been conducted by LGED. He expressed hope that they will build a new bridge soon.