Repair risky bridges and culverts urgently
It is concerning that 712 out of the 15,437 bridges and culverts inspected by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) so far have been found to be highly risky and in urgent need of repairs. This revelation came from an ongoing survey that RHD has been conducting since 2021 on all 21,492 bridges and culverts under its jurisdiction. Although over two-thirds of the structures have been inspected so far, another 6,145 bridges and culverts across four of RHD's 10 zones are yet to be examined.
In a country where public construction costs are often among the highest globally, one would expect such expensive ventures to be durable and resilient to wear and tear. Instead, we often see bridges and culverts collapsing, or cracks appearing on roads just a few years after construction. Rampant corruption in public construction projects—particularly during the Awami League regime—is a major factor behind such premature deterioration. Over the years, many projects were approved without feasibility studies or proper planning. Questionable bidding processes and bribery in project awarding practices further sealed the fate of these structures. There was virtually no accountability in most cases; contractors could use substandard materials, or delay project completion and profit from escalated costs, without facing any consequences.
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Another significant factor behind the deterioration of bridges and culverts—besides overloading and the impact of climate change—is the lack of proper maintenance. According to an RHD official, the budget for maintenance has been consistently inadequate. Unfortunately, maintaining bridges and culverts has never received the same level of attention or interest as constructing new ones, presumably because new projects offer more opportunities for financial manipulation.
What's even more shocking is that, in the country's 54-year history, this is the first time that the RHD is conducting a comprehensive inspection of all the bridges and culverts under its authority. This is likely why so many high-risk structures have now come to light. We hope that the department will continue such inspections on a routine basis. We also urge the government to repair the high-risk structures without delay. Furthermore, any lapses during the construction phase of these 712 bridges and culverts must be investigated, and responsible contractors, project officials, and relevant RHD authorities must be held accountable.
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