Crucial bridge lies half-built in Manikganj for over a year

Construction work of a bridge over the Tarail embankment road, connecting Ghior and Harirampur upazilas in Manikganj, has remained suspended for more than a year.

Consequently, several thousand local residents are forced to cross the river using a temporary bamboo bridge every day, risking their lives. Students, women, farmers, and traders are the worst-affected.

During a recent visit to the site at Tarail village in Baniajuri union under Ghior upazila, the half-built bridge stood abandoned in the middle of the river.

While the pillars were completed, all other construction activities have remained stalled.

Two schools and two madrasas are located just across the bridge site. Because of the incomplete bridge, locals are now taking a two-kilometer detour to reach the other side.

The makeshift bamboo bridge erected by villagers is so narrow and slippery that walking across it is extremely risky, especially during the rain. Locals said minor accidents occur there almost every day.

According to the Manikganj office of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the 56-metre-long bridge was commissioned under the GDP-3 project in the fiscal year 2023-24. Work of the project, costing Tk 37.8 crore (Tk3.78 crore), was awarded to construction firm M/S Khan Maksud.

However, after the regime changeover on August 5 last year, the company's owner, Maksud Khan, who was reportedly involved in local Awami League politics, left the country, halting the construction completely.

Local residents said the bridge is crucial for daily communication between Ghior and Harirampur upazilas. Once completed, it will significantly improve connectivity for several southern unions of the district.

"I get scared every day while going to school," said Aifa Akter, a student of Tarail Government Primary School.

She added, "The bamboo bridge becomes very slippery when it rains. Sometimes I have to take off my shoes and carry them in my hands to cross the street. If I slip even a little, I fall into the water. It has happened to some of my friends, too. Our books often get wet. It's really hard."

Local farmer Shamsur Rahman said, "We used to transport paddy and vegetables to the market by trolley through this road. Now vehicles can't pass; so we have to take a longer route, paying extra transport costs. This is causing huge losses for farmers. The work has been stalled for over a year. We just want it be finished soon."

Local trader Sadek Hossain said, "This road connects large parts of both Ghior and Harirampur upazilas. Many traders from Harirampur travel to Ghior Haat, Tora, and Barongail Haat. With the bridge incomplete, business connections are disrupted, and both time and expenses have increased."

Housewife Rokeya Begum shared her frustration. "It's very risky to cross the bamboo bridge with a child in one hand and shopping bags in the other. If someone falls sick, it becomes impossible to travel this way. We are suffering every day."

Elderly resident Abdul Mannan said, "We've been waiting for this bridge for years. Work started well, but now it's stopped. Unless it's finished soon, no development here will be sustainable."

Baniajuri Union Parishad Chairman S.R. Ansari Biltu said, "Hundreds of people from students to farmers risk their lives every day crossing the bamboo bridge carrying goods. Seeing their hardship, the Union Parishad built the temporary bridge. We've repeatedly requested LGED to resume construction as soon as possible."

Manikganj District LGED Executive Engineer ABM Khorshed Alam said, "As the contractor failed to complete the project on time, legal action is being taken. The LGED is in the process of canceling the previous contract and inviting new tenders to restart the project quickly."

Locals now hope that the tender process will be completed soon, a new contractor appointed, and the long-awaited bridge finally completed.

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