UNB, Kurigram :
Villagers cheered when their long-cherished bridge at Sitaijhar in Sadar upazila of the district was built over three years ago.
But their joys soon proved short-lived.
The bridge, built at a cost of over Tk.31 lakh, was abandoned shortly after its construction for lack of approach roads on both sides, villagers complained.
Hundreds of people in the three unions of Sadar upazila have expressed their dissatisfaction as there is no one to pay any heed to their problems.
Local administration constructed the bridge with the financial assistance of the Relief and Rehabilitation Centre over three years back.
Soon after the bridge came, floods washed away the approach roads on both sides of it.
During a recent visit to the bridge, this UNB Correspondent learned that the 18-feet long bridge was constructed in FY 2018-19 to ease road communication for the people three unions—Mogolbasha, Panchgacchi and Begumganj unions—in Sadar upazila.
But before the bridge could be opened to public use after construction in 2018 it became useless.
However, local people constructed a makeshift bamboo bridge on the road to solve their problem during the monsoon.
Abdul Latif, a local resident, said thousands of people used the road to go to the community clinic, Nayarhat Bazar, Madrasha and Nayarhat High School.
It is difficult for people to go to their destinations using the road during monsoon for lack of a bridge.
“After a long wait we got a bridge but could not set foot on it,” he sighed.
Maidul Islam, a 10th grader, said “During a flood, we have to go through immense sufferings. Sometimes, we fall into water while crossing the bamboo bridge and ruining our dress and books.”
Lokman Ali, a member of Mogolbasha union, said “The approach roads of the bridge broke before its inauguration but the local administration did not take any steps in the three years. We have made a complaint in the local office but no steps are seen yet.”
Khandaker Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Project Implementation Officer (PIO), said “The authorities concerned started their work to construct approach roads on both sides of Sitaijhar Bridge last year, but it again got damaged by the flood. Steps are being taken to construct the approach roads soon.”
