Thousands of people in Chittagong Hill Tracts have been suffering after the collapse of the Bailey bridge last Friday.
Roads and Highways Department is yet to take steps for its repair.
Communications remain suspended between the areas across the hill upazilas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Merung union parishad Chairman Mohammad Mosharaf Hossain said the bridge was adjacent to Merung Bazaar under Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari district.
“The bridge is on the road connecting neighbouring Longudu upazila of Rangamati district,” Mosharaf added.
He alleged that the RHD authorities’ inaction on quick repair to the bridge lengthened immense sufferings to over 2, 00000 inhabitants in the areas.
The bridge collapsed when a cement-laden truck was crossing it last Friday afternoon.
Constructed in 1990 on a temporary basis, the Bailey bridge had not gone through any major repair over the last 23 years, he added.
Dighinala zone Army Commander Lieutenant Colonel Lokman Ali said he deployed the army to construct an alternative road to ease people’s sufferings in the hills.
“Besides, the army were performing their regular duties in CHT for development in the hill area,” he added.
Contacted, RHD Executive Engineer Mohammad Ismail Hossain said he was aware of the collapse of
Bailey bridge that snapped communications between two upazilas in CHT but were yet to do repairs due to fund crunch.
“I already informed higher authorities of the matter, and would go for the repair after getting the go-ahead from them,” he added.
