Thousands of people are suffering immensely due to collapse of three bridges over Morichchap river at different points in Satkhira district following excavation of the river as the bridges have been constructed in an unplanned way.
Sources said the Jordia, Bangdaha and Gavar bridges built by the Department of Disaster Management on the river in 2015-16 financial year have collapsed, causing sufferings for people.
The Department of Disaster Management has constructed 11 bridges for the purpose of improving the communication system of Satkhira Sadar and Ashashuni Upazilas in the financial year 2015-16 (before and later gradually) and the cost of which was about Tk 100 crore. The width of the Morichchap river, which was filled with silt, is about 200 feet. At that time, ignoring the obstacles of local residents, a 40-foot-long bridge was built over the 200-foot river in an unplanned manner -- without judging the width of the river.
Meanwhile, Satkhira Water Development Board started re-dredging of Morichchap river in the water drainage system development project in the financial year 2020-21. The full width of the river was estimated to be 180 feet as per the design made following the map and the river was excavated. As a result, the unplanned 40 feet long bridges remained in a risky state. To keep the communication system working, the soil is kept in the form of a road between the two connecting faces of the bridge.
Recently heavy rains and embankment erosion have caused extreme waterlogging in Satkhira. Thousands of houses, fish farms and crop fields were washed away. In order to alleviate the waterlogging problem, the excavated Morichchap River of Satkhira Ashashuni Upazila was opened.
As a result of strong water flow in the river, the soil of bridge connecting road was washed away and the bridges of Jordia, Bangdaha and Gava collapsed. The remaining bridges are still in danger. Even after 15/20 days, the disaster management department is not removing the collapsed bridges from the river, causing rapid disruption of water drainage. Millions of people in the area have suffered under these circumstances. The communication system is broken.
In addition, three out of 11 bridges collapsed under heavy water pressure as the river flow increased. At present, due to the collapse of three bridges, the flow of water has been obstructed and the shelter project located on the right bank of the river has collapsed.
Abdur Rahman, Monirul, Professor Asutosh, Risalat and Lavlu from the area said that the bridges were built in the middle of the silted up river without considering the width of the river. Later, when the river was re-excavated, the soil on both sides of the bridge was washed away by the water. For this reason, the bridges are broken. The shelter project on the right bank of the river has collapsed due to the collapse of three bridges blocking the flow of water. The government has lost about Tk 100 crore due to unplanned construction of the bridges.
They demanded that the government remove the unplanned and damaged bridges from the river as soon as possible and build new bridges there.
Mohammad Salauddin, executive engineer of Satkhira Water Development Board Division-1, said that the Satkhira Water Development Board started the re-dredging of Satkhira’s Morichchap River in the water drainage system development project in 2020-21 financial year. Although the re-dredging work was carried out at full width as per design along its entire length, the river remained constricted due to the presence of the bridge. Heavy rains during the ongoing monsoon have increased the flow of the river causing the bridges to collapse. Currently, the water flow is obstructed due to the collapsing bridge. Moreover, the shelter project on the right bank is in danger of collapsing. “We have requested the department concerned to remove the collapsed bridge as soon as possible,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Mostak Ahmed said, “I have come to know that the bridges over the Morichchap River have been constructed in an unplanned way. As a matter of fact, three bridges have collapsed. In this regard, I will direct the officers of all departments to take measures. And to reduce public suffering, the measures should be taken as soon as possible,” he said.
