Bridge lying broken for 20 years

A bridge over the canal that connects with Kaliganga and Dhaleswari rivers at Betila-Mitora union in Sadar upazila has been lying broken for twenty years, much to the suffering of the people of 15 villages.

The canal runs through Nalora and Bangora villages but the people cannot cross it as the approach roads on both sides of the bridge were washed away by floodwater in 1998.

As the bridge was not repaired, the villagers built a bridge with bamboo platforms for pedestrians, locals said.

Bangora, Betila, Mitora, Kaitara, Baitara, Bethuajani, Patrail, Gobindapur, Palara villages are situated on the southern side of the bridge, while Nalora, Bakjuri, Ramdia, Goplpur, Bhadutia, Sonakanta, Malancha villages are situated on the northern side.

Jasim Ahmed, a poultry farmer in Nalora village, said people cross the canal on foot during the dry season and by boat in the rainy season. Accidents often occur when rickshaws and rickshaw-vans cross the bamboo platforms, he said.

Md Jahangir Alam, 75, a farmer of Nalora village, said people of 15 villages cannot carry their produce over the bridge, so they need to travel five kilometres more through alternative roads to reach their destinations.

The bridge was built in 1980 but was damaged by floodwater in 1998, said Betila-Mitora Union Parishad Chairman Nasir Uddin.

Shafi Uddin, a retired government employee of Nalora village, said locals contributed money and labour to set up two bamboo platforms in place of the washed-away approach roads, but three-wheelers and rickshaw vans cannot cross the bamboo-made approach roads.

“We cannot cross the bridge with rickshaw van, so we have to travel an additional five kilometres to reach the markets and the upazila headquarters,” said Md Lebu Mia, a rickshaw-puller of Nalora village.

Manikganj Sadar Upazila Engineer Zahidul Islam said that construction of a 60-metre-long bridge has been approved in the Annual Development Programme and the work will start as soon the fund is available.