Tumbledown bridge over Chandpur canal an agony for villagers

Villagers in Chandpur district have been suffering as animportant pucca bridge over a canal at Shuarole village in Shachar union under Kochua upazila has been dilapidated and risky for about 7/8 years.

According to locals, everyday people including children and students of this village use this bridge to go to Kochua upazila sadar, Shachar Bazar, Aatmore Bazar, Shuarol Bazar and elsewhere.

Shah Alam Patwary, a resident of Shuarole village, said, "The bridge has become unfit for use for the last 7/8 years. The railing of one side of the bridgealso collapsed which has made the bridge more dangerous and risky".

Nazrul Islam, another villager, said, "Due to the deplorable condition of the bridge, people of Shuarole, Baroiara, Modhupur and adjacent villages have been suffering much".

Jahangir Patwary, another villager, said, "Although a few big holes had developed on the bridge, authorities concerned did not take measures to repair it".

UP Chairman Monir Hossain said that he is well aware of the bridge's condition. In the past, he approached the Upazila Parishad several times to include the bridge inthe annual development programme but they did not take any measure. He will approach the Upazila Development Co-ordination Committee about the development of the bridge, he added.

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED)'s Kochua Upazila Engineer Abdul Alim Lytton said, "I will visit the spot and will submit a proposal to the higher authorities to construct the bridge as soon as possible".

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