LGED delay causes suffering

Villagers in many areas of the district are repairing at their own expenses the roads, bridges and culverts that were damaged by the recent floods.

They have been suffering every day as communication has been snapped in many places because the damaged roads, bridges and culverts have not been repaired by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and the Roads and Highways Department (RHD.

Engineers said 12 km of roads and three culverts under RHD were damaged by floods and 62 km of roads, four bridges and 27 culverts under LGED were damaged in the district.

Syed Ali, 58, in Sadar upazila said around 60 percent of a 30-foot bridge at Dhairkhata village was damaged by recent floods and communication remained snapped for two weeks. “We set up a bamboo bridge at our own expenditure,” he added.

“Rickshaws, vans and other vehicles aren't allowed to cross the bamboo made bridge, only bicycles and motorcycles can move on it,” said Joynal Miah, 50, adding that they use it to connect with the district and upazila headquarters.

Azizul Islam, 48, said a road at Kulaghat village damaged by floods was repaired temporarily through earth filling at the local people's expenditure. “As the damaged road is yet to be repaired permanently, people face problems in communication, especially during the night,” he added.

Shamsul Islam, 63, in Hatibandha upazila said LGED has set up a bamboo structure on a damaged bridge at Gaddimari village for connecting with the upazila town. “Construction of a permanent bridge is needed as the bamboo bridge may collapse at any time,” he said.

LGED Executive Engineer Zakiur Rahman said bamboo bridges were set up and earth filling was done in many areas with funds from LGED. “We have received funds for conducting repair work on damaged roads, bridges and culverts and we are in the process of calling a tender,” he added.