Bridge lies with no approach roads

A newly constructed 30-foot-long bridge over a canal at Shaguta village in Sujanagar upazila has remained unused since 2017 due to lack of approach roads on either side of the structure.

Funded by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Sujanagar upazila project implementation office constructed the bridge at a cost of Tk 33 lakh in 2017 at Shaguta village under Haatkhali union, informed chairman of the union parishad (UP) Mohammad Habibur Rahman.

He explained that Shaguta is surrounded by the Gaaznar Beel and a canal from the Beel runs through the village.

During monsoon villagers have to cross the canal by boat and in dry season on foot, he added.

The bridge was erected to make communication within the village easier without disturbing the flow of water in the Beel, he said.

However, vehicles still cannot cross the bridge due to lack of approach roads and at least 2 kilometres of such links are required on both sides of the bridge to make it fully operative, he added.

“We are trying to construct the approach road but the union parishad does not have enough fund to do the work,” the chairman claimed, demanding allotment of fund for that.

Former member of Haatkhali UP and a resident of Shaguta village Abdul Hakim said, once the approach roads are built, people of the village can use vehicles to carry their product to the upazila headquarter.

Sujanagar Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Mohammad Rejaul Karim, claiming that the bridge was constructed before he joined the upazila, said, “I don’t know how the bridge was constructed without approach road. After visiting the spot, I will take necessary steps.”