The contractor concerned has got six months more to complete construction work of the bridge on the Lohalia river adjacent to the district town.

The authorities concerned have extended the deadline for completion of the bridge construction work till June 2021. 

Earlier, the bridge was scheduled to complete construction in December this year but the authorities rescheduled the deadline in response to the contractor's request due to coronavirus situation. Shortage of labourers is hampering the construction work of the bride in the challenging time.

Md Zakir Hossain Akand, secretary of the Planning Commission and a member of the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Organisation, made the announcement while inspecting the construction work of the bridge on Sunday noon.

Project Director Mollah Mizanur Rahman, Patuakhali municipality Mayor Mohiuddin Ahmed, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) GM Sarfaraz, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Executive Engineer Md Abdus Salam, its Senior Assistant Engineer Jugal Krishna Mandal, Deputy Assistant Engineer Md Kamal Hossain and Deputy Assistant Engineer Md Moinul Islam, among others, were present at that time.

Md Zakir Hossain, secretary of the Planning Commission, told the local journalists that it was scheduled to complete the construction work of the bridge on the Lohalia river in December this year. But the construction work of the bridge has been extended till June 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also instructed the contractor to complete the construction work of the bridge within the new deadline.

The contractor got the work order of Tk 43 crore to construct the 576.25-meter long bridge. After completion of the construction work of this bridge, the road communication between Patuakhali upazilas -- Baufal, Dashmina and Galachipa-- and Bhola district will become easier and people of the areas will be economically benefitted.