A bridge too low

Khulna's Mayur River has been gradually shrinking due to faulty design of a bridge on it by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

According to sources, RHD constructed the bridge without permission of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). No water vessel, not even tiny boats, can move under the bridge, as it was built too low. To illustrate, even after a little rain, water starts touching its lower part.

As a result, the Tk 7 crore establishment, built 6 years ago, had to be demolished to give way to a higher bridge.

There are two bridges on the river at Gallamary, lying side by side. The route is one of the main entrances of Khulna city that buses and other vehicles of 18 districts in the region ply on.

According to RHD, the oldest bridge in Gallamary area was built during the Pakistan period. But after it got worn down, they built a new bridge next to it in 2013 for Tk 6 crore 90 lakh. It was unveiled for the public in 2015.

According to KCC, a project of Tk 823 crore has been undertaken to elevate waterlogging issues in the city. Under the project, some canals and the 12-km long Mayur river, are to be excavated.

Besides, another project is underway to upgrade the Sher-e-Bangla road, from Zero Point to Moilapota through Mayur, to four lanes at a cost of around Tk 100 crore.

The road department has made a proposal to build the road and a new bridge in Gallamary following BIWTA's recommendation. The project proposal has already been sent to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, sources said.

The new bridge, which will have no pillars in the river, will be 74 metres long and 22 metres wide. The height of the bridge will be at least 7 metres from the water.

Khulna BIWTA Joint Director Ashraf Hossain said if RHD had taken clearance while constructing the original bridge, there wouldn't have to be any complications or waste of public funds.

He further said in Bangladesh Gazette 2010 and 2018, it is clearly mentioned that before building a bridge over any river, one has to have the consent of BIWTA, though this was not done in this case.

Aliul Hossain, then executive engineer of Khulna RHD (now executive engineer of Tangail RHD), said the bridge was built following all the rules and regulations.

Asked why BIWTA clearance was not obtained, Aliul said, "There's no obligation to get clearance from the BIWTA," contrary to the BIWTA official's account.

Md Anisuzzaman Masud, incumbent executive engineer of RHD, said the new bridge will be built at an estimated cost of Tk 56 crore. "We're building a new bridge at least 7 metres high from the river, but we have to demolish the old bridges for that," he added.

Anwarul Kadir, educationalist and member of TIB, Khulna, noted this as a waste of public money, from which a certain group of people benefits.

"The authorities didn't coordinate with the Water Development Board, BIWTA and KCC  for the bridge," he said. "The incident should be investigated and disciplinary action should be taken against those involved."