Thousands suffer as three bridges lie without approach roads

Thousands of villagers are suffering while commuting to destinations as two bridges in Kurigram Sadar upazila and another in Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha are lying without approach roads.

People of 13 villages of Halokhana union under Kurigram Sadar upazila are facing communication problem due to collapse of earthen roads adjacent to two bridges, reports our Kurigram correspondent.

Two 50-foot-long bridges were built at Hemerkuthi village in Halokhana union under Bridge/Culvert Construction Project of the Department of Disaster Management in fiscal year 2016-17, spending Tk 38.90 lakh for each.

But earthen roads on both sides of West Hemerkuthi Bridge were washed away by floodwater in August 2017 while connecting roads of East Hemerkuthi Bridge collapsed during flood this year.

Consequently, around ten thousand people of Khamar Halokhana, Char Baryebari, Atharo Gharia, Baro Gharia, Laxmikanta, Char Laxmikanta, Jolapara, Mandolpara, Namachar, Barayebari, Char Barayebari, Suverkuthi and Matullapara villages of Halokhana union are suffering. 

“Now we can’t directly transport our agriculture products to Kanthalbari Bazar and Kurigram town. Our area is famous for producing potato, banana and sugarcane,” said Panir Uddin, 65, a resident of Khamar Halokhan village.

Anisur Rahman, a village physician of Halokhana, said students of 13 villages are facing problems to attend schools and madrasas due to collapse of the earthen parts of the two bridges.

Younus Ali, the concerned ward member of Halokhana union parishad, said, “The chairman of Sadar upazila told me that rebuilding of link roads with two bridges at Hemerkuthi village will be considered when fund becomes available.”  

Khandaker Md Fizanur Rahman, Project Implementation Officer of Kurigram Sadar upazila, said, “The collapsed parts of earthen roads adjacent to two bridges at Hemerkuthi village of Halokhana union will be filled up with soil in this fiscal year after receiving fund for our ongoing programmes.”

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: A small bridge, lying without any approach road since its construction 15 years ago, has virtually made unusable a one-kilometre earthen road that connected Bujruk Pakuria village in Sadullapur upazila with Sadullapur-Thutiyapukur paved road for going to upazila headquarters.

Now the villagers have to cover additional three kilometres to reach the paved road.

Students, office-goers, traders and farmers are suffering much due to the situation.

The bridge-cum-outlet was constructed to ease communication as well as outflow of water from the crop fields.

Tk 6 lakh was spent for the construction of bridge, but later no fund was allocated for the construction of approach roads, said Abed Ali, the then vice-president of local rural infrastructure development committee.

Despite repeated appeals to the local authorities and public representatives no initiative has been taken in this regard, said small trader Abul Hossain of Bujruk Pakuriya village.

Asiruddin, a farmer of the village, said they count excess fare to carry agriculture products as they have to cover additional three kilometres to reach the market.

Ariful Islam Chowdhury, chairman of Khordakamarpur union parishad, said they informed the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of the matter and requested him to allocate fund to make the road usable.

Sadullapur UNO Nabi Newaz said initiative is being taken to make approach roads connecting the bridge.