Bridge not rebuilt in 31yrs

People of nine villages in Nasirnagar upazila have been suffering much for years for want of a bridge on a canal in Khagalia area.

Especially schoolchildren are the worst sufferers due to the communication problem.

Despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps to build a bridge there, said villagers.

The villages include Bholakut, Kandipara, Bholakut-Kandi, Kahetura, Tekanagar, Nasirpur, Balikhola and Durgapur.

Taru Mia, an elderly villager of Khagalia, said in 1986, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) built a bridge on the canal, connected to the Meghna river to ease communication in the area, but it was washed away by floods of 1988. Five pairs of pillars of that bridge are now seen there only.  

Since then no new bridge was built there, leaving thousands of commuters in great trouble, said Taru.

Mohammad Rubel Miah, chairman of Bholakut union parishad, said around 1,200 people live in Khagalia village. Two government primary schools, two madrasas, a community clinic, a century-old mosque and two markets lie there.

Abu Ishak Al Mamun, headmaster of Khagalia Government Primary School, said during the monsoon months the canal overflows. Even after the rainy season, there is water in the canal for five months.

During the time, the school sees poor attendance as the students have to cross the canal by country boats amid risk and due to this, the guardians do not want to send their kids to school, said the headmaster.

Masud Rana, assistant engineer of LGED in the upazila, said as construction of a road between Nasirnagar upazila and Chatolpar union has already been started, a bridge will also be built there.