The protection pillar of Shaheed Abdur Rob Serniabad Bridge, popularly known as Dapdapia Bridge, over Kirtankhola River was damaged gravely, endangering the main bridge that connects six districts of southern region.
A Jhalakati-bound tugboat hit one the pillars of the bridge around 4pm on Monday, said Abdur Razzak, work assistant in-charge of the bridge under Roads and Highways Barisal division.
Delwar Hossain, sub-assistant engineer R&H Barisal office, said they had tried to seize the tugboat, but failed.
He said they had informed higher authority to estimate the damage and repair the pillar immediately.
Md Khaled Shaheed, executive engineer R&H Barisal said he along with Emdad Hossain, additional chief engineer, AKM Mainuddin, superintending engineer of the department, visited the spot yesterday.
The main pillar of the bridge would endanger if the damaged one is not repaired within a short time.
“We wrote a letter to the bridge maintenance department suggesting doing the repairing works as early as possible, the executive engineer said.
The bridge was constructed at the cost of Tk233 core under a Bangladesh-Kuwait-China joint venture four years ago.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the bridge for all types of vehicles on February 22, 2011.
The bridge has eased the road communications between Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Bhola in the region.
The bridge has also connected Chittagong and Mongla sea port with Barisal region.
China Zhontie Major Bridge Engineering Group Company Limited with the help of the Project Builders Limited of Bangladesh and Copra Construction Enterprises WLL of Kuwait constructed the bridge under supervision of Arab Consulting Engineers of Egypt, Kuwait Construct International Company and Design Development and Construction Company of Bangladesh under the Roads and Highways department of ministry of communication.