A concrete bridge over the Kuchia River, the only one for several thousand villagers in Paikgasa upazila of Khulna, has become a death trap as it has been lying unrepaired for a long time.
As there is no alternative, the villagers are being forced to use the shaky bridge every day risking their lives.
According to locals, the bridge was built about 35 years ago by then UP chairman Abdul Majed Sana to facilitate the movement of the residents of some remote areas, including Tengramari, North Kainmukhi, South Kainmukhi and Digha on the banks of the Kuchia River in Soladana union.
Cracks have developed on the poles of the bridge and its railing broke down earlier, posing serious risks to commuters and causing suffering to local residents.
Many of the local residents fear that the bridge might collapse at any time.
Kishore Mondol, a resident of North Kainmukhi village, said: “Soladana union is surrounded by many small rivers and canals. There is water around us as far as we can see. The bridge is our only means of transportation.”
Digha resident Kallol Mandal said the dilapidated bridge is the only mode to reach schools, colleges and the upazila headquarters.
Bijan Mandal of South Kainmukhi said they have to pay extra charge for carrying goods as the movement of goods-laden vehicles on the bridge is very risky.
SM Enamul Haque, former chairman of Soladana union parishad, said when he was in office he sent a proposal for constructing a new bridge in place of the old one and sent it to the office of the upazila executive engineer which has not been approved yet.
Abdul Mannan Gazi, incumbent chairman of the union parishad, said thousands of people in four villages use the bridge every day.
“The risky bridge should be declared abandoned and a new one should be built. I will raise the issue in the next monthly upazila development meeting,” he added.
Paikgasa LGED Engineer Hafizur Rahman said although former chairman SM Enamul Haque raised the issue in the upazila coordination meeting several times it was not possible to renovate the bridge or construct a new one due to insufficient funds.
A new bridge will be constructed soon on a priority basis considering the current condition of the bridge, he said.
