Narrow bridge stands in way of development

Economic activities in three upazilas of Kurigram and Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila did not escalate as anticipated despite the inauguration of the Sheikh Hasina Bridge over the Dharla river in 2018.

Businesspeople and traders said business as well as development activities in the region -- especially in Phulbari, Nageshwari and Bhurungamari upazilas of Kurigram and Lalmonirhat Sadar -- could not pick up pace due to a rickety and narrow Bailey bridge in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila's Kulaghat area, on the Ratnai river.

The derelict bridge remains as an obstacle to operating larger transport and cargo vehicles on the road between Lalmonirhat and Bhurungmari, Kurigram's northernmost upazila, they also said.

Jahangir Alam, a businessman from Phulbari Upazila in Kurigram, said they are unable to take advantage of the new Dharla bridge as the wobbly and narrow Bailey bridge on the Ratnai river stands in the way of larger payloads of cargo. 

In order to catalyse socioeconomic development in the region, the new Dharla bridge -- built at a cost of Tk 206.85 crore -- has to be used to its full potential, said Emdadul Haque Sarker, another businessman from the same upazila.

To achieve that objective, the Bailey bridge on the Ratnai river needs to be replaced with a stronger and wider bridge as soon as possible, he added.

Echoing the same sentiment, Sirazul Haque, president of Lalmonirhat District Chambers of Commerce and Industries, frustratingly said that he had been pursuing the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) for a new bridge on the Ratnai, but his efforts so far bore no result.

Contacted, Lalmonirhat RHD Executive Engineer Mahbub Alam said they already submitted a project proposal for constructing a 138-meter long bridge in Kulaghat area on the Ratnai river.

However, the status of the proposal is yet to be known, he added.