A bridge spanning a canal in the Daulatpur Upazila of Manikganj district has remained in a state of disrepair for the past two years, leading to immense suffering for thousands of residents.
What was once a vital lifeline for residents in the region has now succumbed to the ravages of time and nature.
The dire situation worsened when floodwaters eroded the soil supporting the connecting road on both sides of the bridge, rendering it completely unusable for commuting. As a result, the bridge has become impassable, forcing local residents to endure arduous journeys of several kilometers to cross the canal via alternative routes.
This bridge, originally constructed at a cost of Tk 32 lakh in front of Ramchandrapur Khalek Master's house in Daulatpur Sadar Chowk, Mirpur Union, was completed around 2018. It was a vital link for approximately 20,000 individuals from nearby villages who relied on it for their daily transportation needs. However, due to its current condition, these villagers now depend solely on boats throughout the year to traverse the canal, adding considerable inconvenience to their lives.
The collapse of this bridge has had a profound impact on more than 10,000 people residing in several villages across Daulatpur, Chak Haricharan, Ramchandrapur, Khalsi, and Zionpur Union. Regrettably, the authorities have not taken any initiative to repair the damaged bridge or construct a new one, even though two years have elapsed since its collapse.
Atiqur Rahman, a resident of Chak Haricharan village, pointed out that the bridge deteriorated primarily due to the use of substandard construction materials. Despite the two years of hardship faced by the villagers, no meaningful action has been taken by the local administration to address the situation.
SM Shafiqul Islam Shafiq, the Chairman of Chowk Mirpur Union Parishad (UP), shared insights into the bridge's inadequacy, explaining that its length was insufficient given the size of the canal it spanned. When floodwaters surged, the ground on both sides of the bridge collapsed, leading to its downfall. Shafiq lamented that he had repeatedly informed the Upazila Project Implementation Office (PIO) and the LGED office about the issue, but they had failed to take any corrective action.
Mominur Rahman, the PIO officer, shed light on the cause of the bridge's collapse, attributing it to the shifting of soil beneath the bridge and its surroundings due to the forceful flow of water during the 2020 flood.
He emphasized that the bridge's original length of 40 feet was no longer adequate, considering the altered dimensions of the canal. To rectify the situation, a larger bridge exceeding 40 feet in length would need to be constructed. However, bridges of this scale fall outside the purview of the Directorate of Disaster Management, further complicating the resolution of this pressing issue.
