People suffer for collapsed bridge

Thousands of people of 15 villages are badly suffering since the concrete bridge on Dhalia canal in Matiranga upazila of the district collapsed on June 12.

People living in those villages are now crossing the canal by rafts made of banana trees.

Thousands of people use the bridge that connects 15 villages of two wards under Matiranga union to the upazila headquarters.

Local people urged the authorities concerned to rebuild the bridge on emergency basis otherwise it will seriously hamper livelihood of the villagers.

Sources said Khagrachhari Hill District Council built the 120-feet-long bridge in 2001.

During a visit to the area a few days ago, this correspondent saw the bridge, constructed on three pillars, lying broken after the pillar in the middle collapsed on June 12.

Meanwhile, villagers who need to go to the upazila headquarters or other places were crossing the canal by raft.

Amrita Tripura, a ward member under Matiranga union, said road communication with upazila headquarters has been completely snapped due to the collapsed bridge.

Dino Mohan Tripura, headman (village chief) of Doldoli mouza, said people living in the area are mostly dependent on Jum cultivation and fruit gardening.

Matiranga Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Bivishan Kanti Das said he heard about the collapsed bridge and informed the deputy commissioner of the matter.

As it required a lot of money to construct a concrete bridge, upazila administration will build a temporary bridge soon considering people's interest, the UNO said.