A bridge without a guardian

Hundreds of inhabitants of 20 villages in Dhobaura upazila are living in misery since the bridge on the Indian Chhora river, running through Baghpara village, collapsed partially five years ago.

However, in these long years, the authorities did not feel any obligation to the citizens by reconstructing the 48-metre-long section of the bridge.

The collapsed section of the bridge was built in 2009 on Charuapara-Baghpara road. It sustained extensive damage by strong current and erosion of the river in 2015.

Locals said the breech of communication due to the broken bridge is not only causing sufferings, but it is also having a negative impact on the residents' livelihoods in the 20 villages of Dakhhin Maizpara union.

Especially for residents of Baghpara, Munsipara, Gilagora, Kashipur, Ballabhpur, Kalikapur, Ramsinghpur, Koroigora, Nayapara and Digalbagh villages, this bridge has been the only means of communications with the upazila and district headquarters.

When even motorbikes and bicycles struggle to cross the bridge, crossing it in any other form of vehicle, let alone transporting critical patients, is absolutely impossible, they also said. 

"We petitioned the department concerned and public representatives to reconstruct the bridge on numerous occasions, but no steps were taken. We're really frustrated and left it for fate to decide," Shahidul Islam, a resident of Ramsinghpur village said.   

"Contestants of local or national elections always make fantastical development pledges. But the pledges are shelved after the poll is over," he said frustratingly.

Jalal Uddin, from Kashipur village, said if schools were open now, students of six educational institutions including three primary schools, situated on either sides of the bridge, would have to risk their lives to cross the broken bridge. 

Moreover, farmers in this agricultural communality are paying a heavy price for not being able to send their produce and goods to markets in time, the elderly man added.

Farmer Abdul Kadir, from Ramsinghpur village, said unable to ship out their produce to markets, local farmers are being compelled to sell those at rock-bottom prices to wholesale buyers.      

Contacted, Shahinur Ferdous, engineer of Local Government Engineering Department in Dhobaura upazila, said they recently submitted a project proposal with the ministry concerned for reconstruction of the bridge's damaged section

Once approved, they hope to start the work this year, he also said..