Banglabandha land port dead for nine days
Bridge collapse cuts links but no move to restore them
Our Correspondent, Dinajpur
Export and import through Banglabandha land port in Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh district remained suspended for the last nine days following collapse of two bridges on the Banglabandha Panchagarh Highway after heavy rain, port sources said.Port activities have come to a halt as the Roads and Highway Department (RHD) is yet to restore the road communications, port sources said. Locals said a bridge collapsed on Monday due to incessant rain at Jalpaitola in Majhipara union. However, none was injured in the incident. The other bridge collapsed at Chowdhurygochh village Saturday afternoon. Panchagarh RHD official sources said the bridges collapsed as those were too old. Earlier, RH D identified the bridges as vulnerable for plying loaded trucks. Locals said RHD took an initiative to build two diversion roads beside the bridges for resumption of road communication. But traders alleged that RHD failed to take prompt action to restore the road link between Panchagarh and Banglabandha even after nine days of bridge collapse. On contact, two residents of Tetulia, Md Idris Ali and Md Abdur Rahman said the 20 kilometre long road links Tetulia with Panchagarh. Sufferings of local people multiplied due to collapse of the bridges, they said. Importers and exporters also alleged that at least 60 to 70 goods laden tracks have been stranded on the highway since collapse of the bridges. Md Shafiqur Rahman, a clearing and forwarding agent, alleged that at least six trucks of his agency remained stranded for nine days. When contacted, executive engineer of Panchagarh RHD Sabuj Baran Dutta said efforts are underway to restore road communication through diversion roads within next 48 hours.
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