Magura Kheya Ghat bridge turns a death trap

Kheya ghat bridge which has recently been constructed over the Nabaganga River in Magura district town has now become a death trap due to its dilapidated condition.

Our Magura correspondent reports that the construction work on the bridge was completed in November 2023.

But, after only one year of the bridge's construction, a number of potholes and cracks have developed on the bridge which has now turned dilapidated.

Every day, hundreds of people, including schoolchildren, cross the bridge, taking risk of life.

Moreover, there is no approach road along the bridge. So, movement of vehicles through the road is still now impossible.

Municipality authorities took initiative to construct approach road, but some locals opposed it.

Moreover, there is no lamp post on the bridge. Due to lack of light, accident has been a common incident on the bridge at night.

Nurey Alam Dipu, a resident of Charpara area, said the construction of the bridge raised a good hope, but development of potholes on it and lack of a lamp post and an approach road have shattered their dream.

When contacted, Magura municipality executive engineer Ahsan Bari admitted that lack of lamp post and approach road have left the bridge users in bad situation.

Locals opposed construction of an approach road as they would lose their own land.

"However, we are working to acquire land from the locals in exchange for money for the construction of the approach road."

Our correspondent from Benapole says that the people of Chowagacha Upazila of Jashore district are travelling on bamboo rafts risking their life to cross the Kapotaksha River.

The local residents have sought the intervention of the concerned to construct a wooden bridge within a short period of time.

Hazrakhana village of the upazila is widely known for the shrine of the famous Pir Baluh Dewan and the Baluh Mela.

The Kapotaksha River flows through the eastern side of Mazar Sharif.

After the independence of the country, there was trade in the Kapotaksha river. Then there is made bamboo bridge.

But due to lack of maintenance it gets destroyed. The dam was completely demolished for the sake of river dredging.

At present, the excavation of the river has been completed, the water in the river has increased considerably.

In this situation, as there is no shelter there, extreme suffering of the people has increased.

Hundreds of people from neighbouring Kaliganj and Kotchandpur upazilas along with some villages on the eastern bank of cross the river to join the fair.

Local Habibur Rahman said that people are crossing the river by crossing the bamboo rafts, which is completely unsafe. But due to lack of bamboo bridge, they have to suffer extreme irony.

Mehedi Hasan of Talpatti village said, we are in trouble due to lack of Bamboo Bridge.

"I come to this fair every year. After crossing the river, the road is shorter so come to this road. But now I see that there is a danger to cross the river."

Abdul Malek of Teghri village said that one has to travel a long way come to the fair through Chougacha Upazila. "So I came to the fair by crossing the river but the float is very dangerous. A permanent bridge is needed over the river."

Due to the lack of wooden bridge, sufferings of the riverside people have mounted.

People from far away places especially pilgrims and devotees have to cross the river with great difficulty due to lack of a wooden bridge.

Mizanur Rahman, president of the Baluh Mela Management Committee, said that not only for those who come to the fair, but also for the residents of the river bank, there is a need for a wooden Bridge in the river.

Agriculture, education, business and commerce have all started to be affected due to lack of wooden bridge.

Narayanpur Union Parishad Chairman Shahinur Rahman said, "I will soon discuss construction of a dam alone the river at a meeting."

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