Bridge lies unused for low height in Moulvibazar's Rajnagar upazila

A bridge built over the Nolu River in Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar district has become a 'trouble structure' for the locals due to its low height.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) took up the project for constructing the 46 metre girder bridge along with a link road and a culvert in 2020 at a cost of Tk41.2 million.

Although work on the bridge was to be completed by March, 2021, the contractor was given an extension of time until June 30, 2022.

The main work of the bridge has been completed by this time while the work on the link road and culvert is still going on.

Locals alleged that the newly-constructed bridge is of a too low height that anyone would face trouble while moving under it on boats. The pillars of the bridge have been erected with less height.

Besides, land filling for the link road is underway while construction of the culvert is also going on.

Some locals said that they used to transport paddy and sand by using boats through the river towards Balagan, Fenchuganj and other places.

But waterway trips are now difficult due to the low height of the bridge.

Members of the fishermen community are also suffering a lot for the same reason. No steps have been taken by the department concerned to resolve their problems, they alleged further.

An official of the contractor firm claimed that they had done work as per the design. There would not be any trouble, he said.

However, an official at the local LGED office refuted the allegations saying problems are not that serious and things could be resolved easily.

A correspondent from Bogura reports: For absence of a permanent bridge over the Bangali River, residents of 31 villages are suffering acutely in district.

A fragile bamboo bridge is currently the only means of crossing the river for the residents of 31 villages, approximately 67,000 people under Sonatala upazila of the district.

With no permanent bridge in place, villagers are forced to take an alternative route that adds an extra eight kilometers to their journey, increasing both travel time and transportation costs.

For more than three decades, locals have been demanding construction of a bridge over the river.

Although elected representatives gave words over the years, their pledges remained unfulfilled.

According to residents along the riverbanks, 13 villages lie on the west bank and 18 on the east bank.

Frustrated by the lack of action from local leaders, villagers took matters into their own hands and built a bamboo bridge over the Bangali River.

"Due to the absence of a permanent bridge, agricultural produce cannot reach markets in time, forcing farmers to sell those at lower prices," said a professor at the local Government Nazir Akhter College.

The area produces a wide variety of crops, including paddy, potatoes, mustard, maize, green and dried chilies, jute, vegetables, and flowers. "But to get these items to market, people must travel an additional eight kilometers," the professor added.

Minazul Islam, a resident of Halidabaga village, said people from 12 villages on both sides of the river came together to construct the bamboo bridge.

Bamboo was collected from villagers in various ways, and around 1,200 poles were used. The project cost nearly Tk0.2 million.

Sonatala Upazila LGED Engineer Mahbubul Haque acknowledged that the bamboo bridge was built through voluntary efforts.

"The Bangali River is prone to erosion, and the distance between Halidabaga and Monarpotol is about 300 metres," he said, adding, "A girder bridge would require a large budget, but the matter will be reported to the department concerned."

Golam Rabbani, chairman of the Jorgacha Union Parishad, noted that there is a marketplace near Monarpotol. "If a permanent bridge is built, the area could become a commercial hub, and transportation of agricultural goods would become much easier."

For now, villagers are using the bamboo bridge to move between the two banks-despite the risks and its inability to carry large loads.

A permanent bridge over the Bangali River is essential for cost-effective transportation, improved connectivity with the district headquarters, and better economic prospects for the local people.

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