DUMURIA, KHULNA, June 19: Construction of a 60-metre bridge over the Singa River in Dumuria Upazila of Khulna remains incomplete even after eight years, despite an initial deadline of just one year.
Although the project has undergone several extensions, only around 45 to 60 per cent of the work has been completed, leaving local residents frustrated and uncertain about its future.
According to locals, residents of Tipna, Singa and nearby villages under Kharnia Union had been demanding a bridge over the river for nearly 36 years. Responding to the long-standing demand, the government undertook the project in 2018 to improve communication for around 150,000 people living in six unions of the upazila.
Sources at the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) said the bridge project, measuring 60 metres in length, was initially allocated a budget of Tk 7.18 crore. The work order was issued on December 6, 2018, to a joint venture between Akon Trading and Mahfuz Khan (JV), with the completion deadline set for December 12, 2019.
However, despite repeated extensions over the years, the project remains only partially completed. Officials said construction work came to a halt nearly two-and-a-half years ago following the death of the principal contractor and subsequent legal and administrative complications. As a result, piles of reinforcing steel bars and other construction materials left at the site have been deteriorating due to prolonged exposure to the elements.
Residents said the unfinished bridge has become a major source of suffering. The area is home to hundreds of families and also contains a government primary school and a temple.
In the absence of a bridge, local people have constructed a temporary bamboo-and-wood footbridge beside the project site at their own expense. They use the makeshift structure daily despite the significant risks involved.
During the monsoon season, when the temporary crossing becomes unusable, residents are forced to rely on small boats to cross the river. Schoolchildren, in particular, face considerable danger while travelling to and from school.
Emergency healthcare services have also been severely affected. Pregnant women and critically ill patients often face difficulties reaching hospitals in time, creating serious risks to their lives.
Expressing frustration, local residents Nishar Ali Sardar, Shibpada Gain and Animesh said the community had waited 36 years for the bridge only to become victims of contractor negligence and administrative inaction.
“Every day we send our children to school with fear. We urge the authorities to complete the remaining work without delay and free us from this suffering,” they said.
Kharnia Union Parishad Member Molla Abul Kashem described the bridge as a long-cherished dream that has now turned into a nightmare.
“The half-finished structure has remained in this condition for eight years. As an elected representative, I face questions from residents every day, but legal complications involving the contractor prevent any immediate solution,” he said.
He added that the situation becomes even worse during the rainy season, when rising river water submerges the temporary crossing and effectively cuts off communication for the entire area.
Dumuria Upazila Engineer Md Darul Huda said the bridge is of immense importance to local residents.
“Construction was halted due to legal and technical complications following the contractor’s death. However, significant progress has already been made on the main structure, including the CC and PC girders. Fresh initiatives are being taken to resume and complete the project through a new contractor or alternative process,” he said.
Dumuria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mises Bita Sarkar said the administration is fully aware of the hardship being faced by local residents.
“We are coordinating regularly with LGED's higher authorities to resolve the legal complications and restart construction as quickly as possible,” she said.
Khulna LGED Executive Engineer Md Kamrul Islam Sardar also expressed optimism, saying logistical and legal issues are being reviewed on a priority basis to revive the project and reduce public suffering.
“We hope a positive solution will emerge very soon,” he added.
