The construction of the Bhairab Bridge began on May 24, 2021, to fulfil the long-cherished dream of the people of Khulna. According to the work order, the bridge's construction was supposed to be completed on November 25, 2022. The deadline was then extended twice and the latest deadline to complete the bridge is June 2024.
The work began with preparations for land acquisition.
Meanwhile, another proposal to extend the tenure of the project by a year has reached the authorities. So far, only 13% of the bridge has been constructed. People living on both banks of the river are unhappy with the sluggish progress.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project on December 17, 2019.
Then, on July 27, 2020, the additional chief engineer of the Khulna Zone of Roads and Highways Department floated the tender for the construction. On November 12, 2020, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved the construction of the project. After 13 days on November 26, 2020, the contractor was given a work order. But the necessary land was not acquired. On May 24, 2021, the contractor officially started the construction work.
According to the current design, the Bhairab Bridge will have a total of 30 pillars. Pillars 1 to 14 will be installed in the urban part of the bridge from Kulibagan area, and pillars 17 to 28 will be installed at the Dighlia end of the bridge. At the Kulibagan end of the bridge, pillar No. 15 will be situated at a distance of 42 metres from the river bank, and at the Dighlia end of the bridge, pillar No. 16 will be 18 metres from across the river.
Incidentally, the total length of the Bhairab Bridge will be 1.316km. According to sources at the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), construction work on the bridge began in June 2021 at a cost of Tk617 crore.
Out of this, the cost of construction of the main bridge has been estimated at Tk303 crore. The cost of land acquisition has been estimated at Tk281 crore.
The construction was suspended multiple times on various pretexts. The recent suspension has halted the work for over a month. As a result, the suffering of the people is increasing day by day, and their patience is running thin. They blame the negligence of the contractor in this regard.
A college teacher from Dighlia said: “This bridge is a dream project for better road connectivity with Khulna. We have given land for the project. But looking at the speed of the work, it does not seem that the authorities have any intention to finish the work on time.”
Sultan, a farmer in Dighlia, said: “We had high hopes for this bridge. We could easily cross this bridge and go to the city with farm produce every day. Now we are being forced to cross the river on trawlers.”
Shahed Newaz from Dighlia said: "Every day we have to come from the city to the village by motorcycle, and on the way there is great suffering in crossing the river on trawlers.”
SM Nazmul, the manager of the contractor firm named Waheed Construction, said: “The land required for the project has not been handed over to us. As a result, we are not able to work properly. Along with that, the price of all types of construction materials has increased. We have again applied for an extension of the project till June 2025. Hopefully, we will be able to complete the construction of the bridge according to the new schedule.”
Anisuzzaman Masud, executive engineer of the Roads and Highways Department in Khulna, said: "There were some complications regarding land acquisition. We have given the land to the contractor at Dighlia end, and we will soon start the eviction drive on the outskirts of the city. Besides, we have progressed a lot in our land transfer program with the railways. But the contracting firm is also slow. Despite opportunities, they did not work at the expected pace. We have warned them repeatedly.”
Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman indicated a change in the design of the bridge. He said that there is a risk of traffic congestion for low-speed vehicles if the current design of the bridge is used. In addition, there is a fear of a river flow crisis due to the installation of pillars. The Roads and Highways Department says they will go for a steel structure or a concrete structure. That matter is still under consideration.
“If you go with the steel bridge, it will be possible to keep the river navigable for a long time. There is no significant difference in cost between steel and concrete structures. Besides, there will be no extra time or extra expense,” he added.
Mashiur Rahman was speaking to reporters after visiting the Dighlia end of the bridge on May 13. Addressing the officials, he said: “Reduce people’s pain and relieve them. They are not happy. When will we be able to cross the bridge?”
He also said he has asked the engineers of the bridge to make a promise and finish the work quickly.
