Tale of a broken bridge

An important bridge over a canal at Barguna’s Taltali upazila has become unfit for use for lack of renovation for long.

The bridge was built on Nayabhanli canal of Sharikkhali union in 2004 to ease communication between Taltali upazila headquarters and Barguna town.

The concrete platform of the bridge collapsed two years back, rendering it unfit for plying vehicles like motorbikes, rickshaws and auto rickshaws.

With the iron rod structure of the bridge now exposed, locals walk on the edges to cross it, which is a safety hazard that can cause injury.

The bridge is frequently used by people of four villages -- Kachupatra, Badurgacha, Chakamoiya and Sharikkhali.

There are several educational institutions, including Kachupatra Salehia Dakhil Madrasa, Alirbondor Government Primary School, Kachupatra Government Primary School, Tarikata High School -- in the vicinity of the bridge and students use the bridge to go to their educationl intuitions.

Local resident Nasir Dofadar, 45, said although the bridge poses serious risk of accident, people still use it as they have no alternative.

“Ambulances used to cross this bridge regularly before,” he said.

Considering the strategic location of the bridge, Jahur Bagum, 65, of Badurgacha village has called upon authorities to take immediate steps to repair it.

Mita Begum, a Class seven student at Tarikata High School, said, “We are scared to cross the bridge as we might fall or our foot may get stuck amid the rods.”

When contacted, Abul Bashar Talukder, local union chairman, said, they have already informed the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to take immediate step in this regard.

Ahammad Ali, an engineer at Taltali upazila LGED, said, “We sent a letter to the higher authorities seeking allocation of fund to renovate the bridge.”