Bridge damaged 4 yrs ago still awaits repair

A motorbike crossing the damaged bridge of Pirojpur-Lahuri road at Jhanjhaniya village in Pirojpur Sadar upazila. PHOTO: STAR

An important bridge on Pirojpur-Lahuri road at Jhanjhaniya village in Sadar upazila which got damaged over four years ago, still awaits repair, causing immense sufferings to the local people.
For the last three months, it has become almost unfit for use as a portion of the bridge got developed a big hole, said locals.
After the fresh damage, no three-wheelers except for motorbikes can cross the bridge, said Zakir Hossain, a battery-run auto driver of the area.
Despite repeated pleas, the authorities are yet to take any steps to renovate the damaged bridge, said Abdul Jalil, a resident of the village.
As there is no railing in the sloppy bridge, local people, especially women and children, have to cross it amid risk of accident everyday, he said.  
Thousands of people in Kalibari and Lahuri under the area use the road for reaching Pirojpur town.
People of Ghop and Chingrakhali areas in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district also use the road to come to Pirojpur as it is the nearest town for them, said villagers.
Contacted, Pirojpur LGED sub-assistant engineer Subash Chandra Malakar said, the construction work of the bridge will start soon.