Hundreds of thousands suffer in Cox's Bazar, Sylhet due to slow progress in bridge construction projects

Slow progress of two government bridge construction projects left hundreds of thousands of people in serious inconvenience for years in Cox's Bazar and Sylhet.

Our correspondent from Cox's Bazar reports, hundreds of thousands of people have been facing much hardship as the works for constructing a 392-metre-long bridge to connect Khurushkhul and Varuakhali unions in Sadar Upazila stalled after they began four years ago.

LGED sources said the works slowed due to complexities in land acquisition and the funds allocated were not received on time. Negligence of the contractor is one of the reasons for delay in the project's implementation. The works practically came to a standstill since MA Jaher, the owner of the contractor and former MP of Comilla-5 constituency, went into hiding on August 5, 2024. The bridge will reduce the distance of Cox's Bazar city from both unions by 27 kilometres. Currently, people use dinghies to cross the tidal canal that flows beneath the under construction bridge, which is risky and time-consuming. School and college going children and those involved in transportation of agricultural products are among the worst affected.

On January 10, 2017, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the 'Khurushkul-Varuakhali Connection Bridge Construction Project'. The initial cost was set at over Tk 362 million. After inviting two rounds of tenders, the job was given to the contracting company, Tama Construction and M. A. Zaher (JB) Limited, which started work in January, 2021. The works were supposed to reach completion within two years, according to the contract. But, despite extending the deadline twice, the works are yet to conclude. So far, installations of eight out of 13 spans of the bridge were completed.

Fazlul Hoque, a member of the Varuakhali Union Parishad, said the situation of the area will change with the opening of the bridge. "Local produce will reach the city (Cox's Bazar city) in 20 minutes."

Demanding speedy completion of the construction works, he further said, "If the bridge is completed, the daily sufferings of thousands of people will be alleviated." Locals held various programmes, including human chains and marches, for the construction of the bridge. They said they will launch a larger movement if their demand of completing the bridge is not fulfilled soon.

The bridge falls under the jurisdiction of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila.

Sadar Upazila Engineer Al Moein Shahriare said, "Due to various complications, including land acquisition, the project’s period had to be extended twice. We are trying to complete the works of the bridge quickly. I think that the quality of life and economic activities of locals will improve once the bridge is operational."

Our correspondent from Sylhet reports, the absence of a concrete bridge over the Korti canal in Beanibazar Upazila's Alinagar Union caused immense sufferings to locals and travelers for an indefinite period, which, locals say, would be no less than five decades.

In 2019, a makeshift bamboo footbridge-built over the canal at the cost of Tk 150,000 by locals-failed to alleviate the hardships of 20,000 people currently residing in different villages of the union. Pedestrians, especially school-going children are taking a risk crossing the lean bridge. As vehicles are unable to cross, farm products could not be transported in large bulks, raising the costs for villagers.

Residents of Paton, Phulmalik, Ghagua, and other villages use the makeshift bridge every day and locals say women and the elderly suffer the most during monsoon, when it gets slippery and sustains damage. The durability of the footbridge is further compromised due to strong currents of the canal in this season. After the bridge was seriously damaged in the 2022 floods, villagers rebuilt it in 2024.

Three years ago, a proposal to construct a concrete bridge over the canal was submitted to the LGED office in Dhaka under the government’s project for the construction of under 100m bridges in upazilas, unions and villages. LGED Upazila Engineer Deepak Kumar Das said three to four months ago, another project proposal for the bridge-along with proposals for other projects of the upazila-was sent for the LGED office in Dhaka, via the Sylhet district LGED office. Engineer Deepak said once they receive approval for the project, work could commence through tendering. Responding to a question regarding the proposal which was sent three years ago, Engineer Deepak said he was not at office that time.

Meanwhile, locals formed an 18-member body, called the Bridge Implementation Committee, with Mohammad Shabuddin, CEO & MD of Beanibazar Cancer & General Hospital, as its head. Some prominent locals, who are members of the committee, said they are working so that construction works commence for the bridge.

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