2 weeks Ago
A wooden bridge over Chitra river on Kolkolia-Maerkhali route in Bagerhat's Fakirhat upazila has long been in a dilapidated state, causing sufferings to thousands of local residents, including schoolchildren, using it daily for their commute at risk. Over years of use and lack of maintenance, the bridge's iron pillars have become rusty while the wooden planks used for its deck have become loose, making it no longer fit for movement of people and vehicles. And yet, residents of at least 10 villages in the upazila are compelled to use the bridge as it remains an important link to connect to the upazila headquarters and the district town.
Many pedestrians, especially students and teachers from nearby Kolkolia Gurucharan Secondary School and Kolkolia Government Primary School face severe difficulties while crossing the bridge, often sufferings accidents and sustaining injuries. Despite repeated assurances from local representatives and government officials, no steps have yet been taken to repair the bridge or construct a new one to replace it. As such, the locals resorted to collecting funds and carrying out temporary repairs themselves, but the repairs hardly ensure safety while using the bridge.
Local residents demanded the authorities concerned to take urgent steps for constructing a new bridge on the spot without further delay. "I have fallen in the river several times while crossing this bridge on my way to and from school. It has become extremely risky to use the bridge anymore," said Sadya Akter, a 10-th grader.
Echoing her, Aksha, a 7-th grader, said, "We have been hearing about repairs for years, but nothing has been done yet, while our suffering continues." Subarna Sarkar, mother of a schoolgirl, said she accompanies her daughter to and from her school daily as she does not feel safe to let her daughter commute alone using the rundown bridge. "The bridge serves as an important link to our only route to connect to the upazila headquarters and Bagerhat town.
Despite knocking on many doors, our plea for a new bridge remains unheard. We urge the authorities to take immediate action in this regard," said Habib Sheikh, a local resident. Unless the bridge is renovated or a new bridge is constructed to replace it, tragic and potentially fatal accidents may happen any time, warned Projit Majumdar, headteacher of Kolkolia Gurucharan Secondary School.
Contacted, Md Sharifuzzaman, executive engineer of Local Government Engineering Department in Bagerhat, said they were aware of the bridge's present condition. "The design work for a 55-metre-long RCC bridge to replace the existing wooden bridge is currently in progress. Once the necessary official procedures are completed, tender for the new bridge's construction will be invited," he added.
A wooden bridge over Chitra river on Kolkolia-Maerkhali route in Bagerhat's Fakirhat upazila has long been in a dilapidated state, causing sufferings to thousands of local residents, including schoolchildren, using it daily for their commute at risk. Over years of use and lack of maintenance, the bridge's iron pillars have become rusty while the wooden planks used for its deck have become loose, making it no longer fit for movement of people and vehicles. And yet, residents of at least 10 villages in the upazila are compelled to use the bridge as it remains an important link to connect to the upazila headquarters and the district town.
Many pedestrians, especially students and teachers from nearby Kolkolia Gurucharan Secondary School and Kolkolia Government Primary School face severe difficulties while crossing the bridge, often sufferings accidents and sustaining injuries. Despite repeated assurances from local representatives and government officials, no steps have yet been taken to repair the bridge or construct a new one to replace it. As such, the locals resorted to collecting funds and carrying out temporary repairs themselves, but the repairs hardly ensure safety while using the bridge.
Local residents demanded the authorities concerned to take urgent steps for constructing a new bridge on the spot without further delay. "I have fallen in the river several times while crossing this bridge on my way to and from school. It has become extremely risky to use the bridge anymore," said Sadya Akter, a 10-th grader.
Echoing her, Aksha, a 7-th grader, said, "We have been hearing about repairs for years, but nothing has been done yet, while our suffering continues." Subarna Sarkar, mother of a schoolgirl, said she accompanies her daughter to and from her school daily as she does not feel safe to let her daughter commute alone using the rundown bridge. "The bridge serves as an important link to our only route to connect to the upazila headquarters and Bagerhat town.
Despite knocking on many doors, our plea for a new bridge remains unheard. We urge the authorities to take immediate action in this regard," said Habib Sheikh, a local resident. Unless the bridge is renovated or a new bridge is constructed to replace it, tragic and potentially fatal accidents may happen any time, warned Projit Majumdar, headteacher of Kolkolia Gurucharan Secondary School.
Contacted, Md Sharifuzzaman, executive engineer of Local Government Engineering Department in Bagerhat, said they were aware of the bridge's present condition. "The design work for a 55-metre-long RCC bridge to replace the existing wooden bridge is currently in progress. Once the necessary official procedures are completed, tender for the new bridge's construction will be invited," he added.
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