Broken bridge over Ichamati River becomes a nightmar

A dilapidated bridge over the Ichamati River at Kusta Purbo Para in Ghior upazila of the district has become a daily nightmare for thousands of people.

Built in 2002 at a cost of around Tk1.8 million by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the bridge lost one of its approaches to the river more than 15 years ago.

Today, only one-third of the concrete structure remains, with the rest replaced by a fragile bamboo walkway constructed by locals.

Every day, children, students, farmers, and elderly residents cross the shaky makeshift bridge, risking their lives. The remaining portion of the bridge is broken, its concrete railings lie shattered, and the middle part unstable. During the rainy season, the situation worsens as the bamboo planks become slippery due to strong currents.

On one side of the bridge lies Ghior Bazar, while the other side connects several villages to a primary school, a high school, and a madrasa.

Residents say at least 12 to 14 villages, including Kusta, Thakurkandi, Bhorra, Binodpur, Kholsi, Kumuria, Bongao, Narshi, and Jionpur, depend on the bridge for their daily communication with markets, schools, and places of worship. "Thousands of people from our villages rely on this bridge every day. From school children to the elderly, everyone risks their lives while crossing it," said Arshad Uddin, a resident of Kusta Purbo Para.

Omar Ali, caretaker of Kusta Bazar Jame Mosque, added, "Our suffering has no limit. For 15 years, people of all ages have been facing this hardship. During rain, the bamboo bridge becomes extremely slippery, making it dangerous for everyone, even for worshippers coming to the mosque."

Students are among the worst affected. Mohona Das, a student of Ghior Pilot High School, shared her struggle, "Walking on this bridge is very painful. I once tripped and got injured because my foot got caught in the gaps between the bamboo. Many students miss school during the rainy season, and it becomes a big problem during exams. Our future is literally hanging on this broken bridge."

Parents, too, are forced to take risks. Anita Ghosh, mother of a third-grader, said, "My daughter refuses to cross the bridge alone. If we take the alternative route, we have to walk half a kilometer extra, but through this bridge it only takes a few minutes. I often carry her across the bamboo walkway despite the danger." Elderly residents also expressed their distress. Abul Hossain, a senior villager, said, "At my age, walking on this bamboo bridge means risking my life. Still, I have to cross it for the market. Many politicians and representatives came and went, but no one fixed our bridge."When contacted, Upazila Engineer Md. Shahinuzzaman said, "We are aware of the condition of this bridge. A proposal for reconstruction was submitted five years ago, but due to a lack of sufficient approach on one side, the project could not move forward. Considering the current situation, a fresh proposal for a new bridge will be sent again."

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