Cracks on just completed bridge!

A newly reconstructed bridge, built to connect three villages in Kulaura upazila with the upazila headquarters, developed several cracks just before completion of the construction work.

Villagers said the incident has prolonged the sufferings of several thousand people of remote Langla, Tarapasha and Lalpur villages.

The contractor concerned is scheduled to handover the bridge to the authorities concerned within a week, locals said.

The contractor, however, claimed that the cracks must have developed during the earth filling work alongside the approach roads using excavator machines.

Locals said the old bridge on Akhali canal collapsed due to a sudden rise of water level on the Manu river during the devastating flood last year.

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) floated a tender this year in order to construct a new bridge there at a cost of Tk 27 lakh.

Construction firm Messrs Kamrul Hasan Baksh got the work order and later sold it to sub-contractor Rubel Ahmed, who conducted the construction work.

Meanwhile, locals questioned about the quality of the work as the wing walls on the west and south side of the bridge have developed several cracks only a few days before handing over the bridge to the authorities concerned.

Farmer Shah Alam said residents of Langla, Tarapasha and Lalpur villages use the bridge to go to the upazila headquarters and other adjacent upazilas as they have no alternative.

Grocer Shafiq Mia, who often crosses the canal carrying goods on his shoulder, said he has no other choice as he has to spend additional Tk 500 for carrying the goods to his shop.

Lemon orchard owner Siraj Miah at Tarapasha village said he cannot carry his produces to the wholesale markets in Noyabazar and Tilagaon due to the situation.

Sub-contractor Rubel said he is conducting the construction work as per the schedule, adding that the cracks developed during the earth filing work not for faulty construction.

Kulaura Upazila LGED Engineer Ishtiaq Hasan said if the work is not properly done the contractor will not get his bills.