Road communication between Lama and Alikadam upazilas may collapse anytime as a bailey bridge which connects the two upazilas with Bandarban district town lies in a vulnerable state.
According to local sources, Kumari bailey bridge located on the bordering areas of Chokoria and Lama was the essential medium of communication for the residents of Lama and Alikadam upazilas.
Recently miscreants had removed screws and nuts of the bailey bridge that put it in a vulnerable condition and it may collapse at anytime. The authorities of the Roads and Highway Department have already put cautionary flag on the bridge, but people of the locality are still using the bridge putting their lives at risk.
Farid Ahmed, president of Chokoria-Lama-Alikadam Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity told the Dhaka Tribune that they were compelled to operate vehicles through the bridge as they had no alternative.
He also urged the Roads and Highway Department to repair the bridge as soon as possible to ease the sufferings of locals.
Selim Saodagar, a trader at Lama Bazar said he used to bring vegetables from a Chittagong wholesale market.
“As the bridge lies in a dilapidated state, I am bringing less quantity of vegetable from the wholesale market for that reason I am doing less profit. Now it has become tough for me to run my family with the income,” he added.
Shuvo Ranjan, a local Awami League leader, said the authorities should repair the bridge as soon as possible to ease the sufferings of 500,000 people of the locality.
Deputy Engineer of the Roads and Highway Department Mohammad Yusuf told the Dhaka Tribune that they had already informed the higher authorities about the condition of the bridge. He said: “We will start repairing works on the bridge after getting fund.”
The bridge was constructed in 1985 during the tenure of the Ershad government. After construction the bridge, visiting of tourists had increased in the area to a great extent.