Saidpur people suffer as new bridge construction delayed

Thousands of people in Saidpur municipality under the district are facing immense suffering for want of a concrete bridge over Pocha Nala canal across an important road near Saidpur Cantonment as the age-old bridge collapsed under the pressure of a sand laden truck on July 1.

For want of a permanent bridge, a large number of people including students of Cantonment Public School and College are using a weak bamboo bridge to go to destinations on foot, as movement of all kinds of vehicles are stopped.

The road serves as a convenient route for people of Badarganj and Taraganj upazilas of Rangpur and Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur to go to Saidpur, a big business centre, said Al Mamun Sarkar, municipality councillor of the area.

Besides, Saidpur upazila parishad complex, Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College, residents of high officials of Saidpur Railway Workshop are situated beside the road which leads to renowned Saidpur Railway Market, the councillor added.

"As the bridge is damaged, I have to carry the goods from Saidpur market to my village on mini trucks using a longer alternate way via Saidpur bus terminal, and it costs me additional time and money," Tarikul Islam, a businessman of Badarganj upazila, said during this correspondent's visit to the site on Saturday.

Farhad Reza, a student of Cantonment Public School and College, said, "We have to cross the bamboo bridge at least twice a day to go to the institution. We feel scared as it trembles when we walk on it."

Saidpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Saleh Md Musa Jongi said the latest district co-ordination committee meeting decided that WDB will build the bridge and the latter was directed to start the work early.

Executive Engineer of WDB in Saidpur Abdus Shahid said, "We have sent a project proposal to the higher authorities concerned and it has got approval. We will start work as soon as we get the budget."