Long-suffering Kawkhali people

A broken bridge over a canal in Kawkhali upazila has been causing untold suffering to thousands of people for the last two years.

Students, pedestrians and particularly young men who make a living by driving easy-bikes (improvised three-wheelers) and auto-rickshaws are to take great risk to cross the dilapidated bridge in Kathalia village.

Locals are somehow keeping the bridge operational with the support of logs and bamboos, risking its collapse any time.  

The concrete bridge with an iron frame collapsed two years ago, disrupting road communications with Kathalia, Chhoto Biraljhury, Boro Biraljhuri, Goshontara and Paik Koron. Local people somehow repaired the bridge temporarily with logs and bamboos.  

Immediately after it collapsed, locals informed the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), builder of the bridge, of the matter. They also informed the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), Kawkhali union parishad chairman and Kawkhali upazila parishad chairman repeatedly about the suffering of the people, locals said.

“Two years have passed by, but the authorities concerned did not take any step to solve the problem,” said Mukule Azam Liton of Chhoto Biraljhuri.

“Following collapse of the bridge, economic activities in the area have been affected. Farmers find it hard to sell their produce in large quantities,” Liton added. 

“Over a thousand people use the bridge every day, but vehicles are unable to cross it with a load,” said madrasa teacher Md Mahbubur Rahman.

Easy-bike driver Md Rana said he is to cross the damaged bridge twice daily with great caution and difficulty. “Sometimes, the vehicles break down when we cross it,” he added.

Kawkhali Union Parishad Member Adam Ali Khan said he has informed the local union parishad chairman and upazila parishad chairman of the matter, but the situation has not changed.

“Around a year ago, local lawmaker Anwar Hossain Manju made a promise to construct a new bridge, but we see no change whatsoever,” said Md Hafizur Rahman.

Kawkhali Upazila Parishad Chairman SM Ahsan Kabir said he knows about the damaged bridge and would take steps to repair it as early as possible.

Upazila Engineer ASM Zafarullah said he does not know about the matter as he has joined the post recently.

LGED Executive Engineer Shusanto Ranjan Roy assured the villagers of taking steps in this regard if he gets written complaint about the damaged bridge.