PABNA, May 03: – A bridge costing half a crore taka has not been used for 23 years. It was built on the ‘Samaj Jhitki Kata’ canal, a branch of the Karatoya River in Chatmohar. Since its construction, it has been lying without a connecting road, making it like an island. Thousands of people in these villages have not benefited from the government’s half a crore taka.
It was learned on the spot that the bridge was built in 2001 with the funding of the government’s LGED department. Immediately after construction, the soil on both sides collapsed in the flood of Chalanbil, destroying the connecting road. More than two decades have passed since then, but no renovations have been made. There is no road development plan or implementation initiative. Thousands of people in the Samaj Balachpur, Miapara, Gadairupsi, Baniabahu, Satbaria and Maidandigi areas are in extreme distress due to the lack of connecting roads. People in these agriculture-dependent villages are forced to travel almost double the distance to go to the market and market by taking alternative routes with their crops, vegetables or livestock. The suffering becomes more pronounced, especially during the rainy season.
Former local UP member Biplob said that the locals have repeatedly appealed to the concerned authorities to build a connecting road. But so far, no visible initiative has been seen. Although some residents live next to the bridge, their daily life has become complicated due to the lack of a road. Even for patients or students, it is difficult to move in case of an emergency.
Local resident Rafiqul Islam said that the bridge was built in 2001. Since then, the bridge has not been of any use. If a road was built with soil on both sides, the locals would have benefited a lot. The crops in the fields could have been brought and taken easily.
Mofiz Uddin, a fish trader in Samaj village, expressed his anger and said that this bridge has been lying for 23 years. Due to non-use, the ground is now covered with moss and weeds. This is like an example of a failed government project. However, if there was a road, the communication system of the entire region would have changed radically.
Abdus Salam, a teacher from Gadairupsi village, said, “An important bridge lying unused for two decades is undoubtedly an example of public suffering and administrative failure. This bridge, which is waiting only for a connecting road, can become a real example of changing the lives of thousands of people in five villages. Therefore, we demand that it be immediately made suitable for public use by filling the soil on both sides of the bridge and constructing a connecting road.”
In this regard, Chatmohar Upazila Engineer Md. Rakib Hossain said, “I have just taken charge. I was not aware of this matter. I will visit the site and talk to the higher authorities to take necessary measures.”
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