Important bridge remains unlit after dark for a couple of years

MANIKGANJ, June 17: The Balirteck Bridge over the Kaliganga River in Manikganj Sadar upazila remains unlit after dark for a couple of years due to non-functional streetlights.

Standing tall over the Kaliganga River beside Balirteck Bazar, the 456-meter-long bridge was once a symbol of progress and prosperity of South Manikganj.

Built at a cost of around Tk550 million (Tk 55 crore) under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the bridge, inaugurated for public use in January 2020, has significantly improved connectivity and boosted the region's economy.

The bridge directly links three upazilas -- Manikganj Sadar, Singair, and Harirampur -- to Dhaka, reducing the distance to the capital by nearly 25 kilometers. Farmers now have better access to markets, businesses have flourished, and new employment opportunities have emerged.

However, after sunset, this symbol of development turns into a corridor of fear. The power connection was severed due to unpaid electricity bills.

As a result, pedestrians, drivers, and local traders are forced to navigate the bridge amid concern and risks of accidents and crime.

CNG auto-rickshaw driver Md Sohel who frequently uses the bridge said, "We often travel late at night. If the lights were on, we could at least see what is ahead. Now, there's always a fear of robbery or something worse."

Resident Fahima Begum echoed the same concern. "We feel unsafe crossing the bridge after dusk, especially women and children. It is terrifying."

A trader from Balirteck Bazar, requesting anonymity, said, "This area used to be safe even at night. Now we shut our shops by 8pm instead of 10 pm, fearing theft or mugging. We heard the lights were off because electricity bills were not paid."

Veteran teacher Abdur Rahman commented, "A development project becomes truly successful when it is sustainable and safe for use. This bridge may have opened economic opportunities, but without lighting, it has become hazardous. It is unacceptable."

Nazrul Islam, a member of the Union Parishad from Bhararia Union, said, "This bridge is located in my ward. The darkness deepens as night falls. The authorities must urgently restore the lighting."

When contacted, Muhammad Azizur Rahman Sarkar, deputy general manager of the Manikganj Zonal Office of Palli Bidyut Samity, said, "I cannot confirm the exact amount of electricity bills. However, if the bridge authorities clear the dues, we will reconnect the power line."

Md Kamrul Islam, upazila engineer of LGED in Manikganj Sadar, said he has recently joined and promised to take action upon reviewing the matter.

Sheikh Mesbah Ul Saberin, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Manikganj Sadar, said, "I was previously unaware of this issue. But it is alarming that such an important bridge remains unlit after dark. We will take immediate steps in coordination with LGED to resolve this problem and ensure public safety."

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