<i>Because of his defeat in UP election</i>

Boats ferry people of 20 villages for tolls as the defeated Uria UP chairman candidate in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha dismantled the wooden bridge (right: file photo) over a canal after the election.Photo: STAR

A defeated union parishad (UP) chairman candidate dismantled a wooden bridge over a canal in Uria union connecting 20 Fulchhari upazila villages a few weeks ago.
People of the villages are now forced to cross the canal by boats owned by Mojibur Rahman, the defeated chairman aspirant of Uria union.
For crossing the canal, the villagers have to pay tolls as demanded by the men of Mojibur, alleged locals.
Thousands had been suffering for want of a bridge over the canal at Katadara in the union for long, they said.
After repeated request by locals, the authorities constructed a 120 feet-long wooden bridge under LGSP project in 2010.
During the last union parishad election, Mojibur repaired the bridge at his own cost as its large portion was damaged by surging water of the canal during the rains, said villagers.
Following his defeat, Mojibur, an influential person in the area, had said that he could not win the election as the villagers did not cast vote in his favour.
Later, his supporters dismantled the bridge in the last week of May.
Contacted, Mojibur said the bridge was removed from the place as it needed further repair.
Strict action would be taken against those responsible for dismantling the bridge after investigating the matter, said Abdul Hamid Sarker, incumbent chairman of the union.
“Nobody has the right to destroy any public property”, he said.