Locals in Tarail upazila have demanded a bridge with paved walkway on the Sunti River as the existing one has turned rickety after being repaired numerous times.
People of the upazila use the bridge to commute to several key destinations, including Dhaka, Mymensingh and Kishoreganj.
Constructed in 1986 with steel boards, the Bailey bridge connects two villages – Sachail and Sahilati. Different parts of it have been mended over the years, with the latest repair on March 12.
Roads and Highways Sub-assistant Engineer in Kishoreganj, Md Ziaul Haque, said on that day that cracks had appeared in some of the boards.
The decrepit boards have also caused frequent accidents. Md Moniruzzaman, in-charge of Tarail Palli Bidyut substation, recently sustained serious injuries as one of his legs got stuck in a broken board one day when he was going back home.
The narrow bridge often causes tailbacks on both ends as more than one heavy vehicle cannot move on it simultaneously. Besides, the bridge shakes heavily when vehicles cross it, scaring passengers more often than not.
Abdul Jabbar, a truck driver, said he constantly remembers the almighty while driving on the bridge. “An accident may happen any time.”
Sadek Mia, who drives an easy bike, said the boards break every couple of days, making it risky to drive.
“It is not only frightening but I have also faced accidents a few times,” he said.
Md Shamsul Haque, a Sachail resident, said the bridge was no longer usable and a new one with a paved walkway should be built urgently.
Md Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan Kanchan, Tarail upazila parishad chairman, agreed, adding that delaying construction could lead to fatal accidents any time.
Executive Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department in Kishoreganj, Md Shafiqul Islam, said officials were working on a plan to build a new bridge but refused to be specific about when the construction would begin.
“Broken boards are repaired immediately to avoid accidents, and we hope to start building a new bridge soon,” he added.