People suffer as bridge over Monnearpar canal collapses
At least three lakh people of seven unions have been suffering in crossing Monnearpar canal at Monnearpar village in Kaliganj union under Nageswari upazila of the district as the lone bridge over the canal collapsed due to strong current during the recent flood.
About four thousand people cross the canal, a branch of the Dudhkumar River, daily by boat for the last few days after the 100-foot-long bridge on the canal collapsed.
“The bridge constructed in 1993 was the only means of communication between seven unions of the upazila and the district headquarters, had been in dilapidated condition for over five years. It was totally damaged by the last flood,” said local Jehar Uddin, 38.
Kaliganj Union Parishad Chairman Nur Islam said, “About three lakh people of Motherganj, Kachakata, Narayanpur (partial), Balloverkhas, Noonkhawa (partial), Kedar, Berubari (partial) and Kaliganj unions would use the bridge.”
After its collapse, about 40 kilometres of alternative roads are being used for transportation and communication, he added.
He said he, earlier, informed the upazila nirbahi officer and local lawmaker several times that the bridge may collapse any time as it had become loose. But no action was taken.
Badsha Alamgir, upazila engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), said the Monnearpar bridge is not under LGED, it is under Roads & Highways Department (RHD).
RHD Executive Engineer ABM Khurshid Alam said the main road, part of Bhurungamari-Sonahat-Madarganj-Bhitarband-Nageswari road, is under their department but the bridge is situated around 100 metres from the main road which takes a U-turn to the east. Khurshid said they would now take steps to construct a new bridge as Hafizur Rahman, additional chief engineer of RHD in Rangpur, visited the area on August 4.
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