Thousands suffer for dilapidated wooden bridges in Chandpur

CHANDPUR, May 04: Although two children drowned and many suffer daily because of a dilapidated wooden bridge over Hajamaja canal and a similar condition of another bridge, both in Kachua Upazila, authorities failed to build any concrete bridges sought by the victims for years.

A wooden bridge built by locals about 16 years ago for a few villages under the Kachua municipal area has been remaining severely ramshackled for the past few years due to wear and tear and lack of repair works.

The two children had drowned in the canal as they fell through the holes of the bridge, according to locals Ali Azam, a govt. service holder, Billal Hossain, a social development worker, and others. They said elderly people, children, pregnant mothers and patients are the worst sufferers and the bridge becomes the most risky during nighttime and rainy days. Hundreds of people use the bridge daily, locals said, and they demanded that a concrete bridge be built in place of the risky wooden bridge.

Kachua Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahmudul Hasan Russel said he would visit the bridge soon and would take the necessary steps in this regard.

Meanwhile, about 10,000-12,000 people of five villages use another dilapidated wooden bridge over the Shundori Canal in Kachua Upazila daily.

The 40-feet-long bridge was built six years ago by locals and it was repaired several times with financial help from locals. Locals said they received assurance of getting a concrete bridge by public representatives time and again, including before the election. But they are yet to

get a bridge and its absence has been causing inconvenience to men, women, children and farmers.

Union Parishad Member Humayun Kabir Patwary said he is keeping in touch with the LGED office to take steps for construction of a concrete bridge and include the matter in the annual development programme.

LGED Upazila Engineer Abdul Alim Lytton said he would visit the site of the bridge and would make a plan to build a concrete bridge for the convenience of "hundreds of people". He added that work would start if fund is available.

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