Of no use for 12yrs

A concrete bridge built over a decade ago without approach roads has been lying abandoned at Nowagaon village in Lakhai upazila of Habiganj.

The villagers have been suffering immensely transporting their produce as the bridge lies unused due to the absence of road link with it, said locals.

They have built a makeshift bamboo bridge in the place as an alternative but it does not allow them to transport heavy goods, they added.

Moreover, cracks have appeared in the concrete bridge due to lack of use and maintenance.

The people of the areas have been demanding that the bridge be made operational linking it with roads after repair.

It could be learned that former upazila Chairman Rafiq Ahmed and Bamoi union Chairman Mahfuzul Alam constructed the bridge with the allocation of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief under Lakhai Upazila Project implement Office.

The bridge was constructed in Nowagaon village area at the cost of Tk 30 lakh in 2009-2010, sources said.

However, connecting roads of the bridge were not constructed then. The existing narrow roads on both ends of the bridge were not elevated and they go under water during the rainy season making them unusable.

Krishna Lal Das, a retired teacher and a resident of the village, said more than 90 per cent of people in this haor area are involved in agriculture and they have to carry their agri-products to the nearby markets for selling them but the dilapidated condition of the road has been hampering the smooth transport of the products.

The bridge has not been inaugurated yet although 12 years have passed, he said.

Cracks have appeared in many parts of the bridge. The government spent Tk 30 lakh but no one could use it even for a day, he added.

Newly-elected union parishad (UP) member Aranjit Das said the government made the bridge but the people have not been benefited from it.

"After taking the oath, I will see whether connecting road of the bridge can be made or not," said the UP member.

The bridge was constructed as per the demand of the local people and the connecting roads should be constructed very soon, he added.

Lakhai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharif Uddin said, "I will visit the bridge soon and take necessary steps after talking to the concerned department."