Barishal bridge turns useless for lack of approach road

BARISHAL, Aug 4: A bridge built at a cost of Tk 3.3 million in a paddy field at Kolchar Village under Chandpasha Union in Babuganj Upazila of the district is useless due to the lack of approach road. 

Meanwhile, just 30 yards away, another bridge already serves local residents. People question why a second bridge was built. The bridge was approved under the 2023-24 fiscal year programme of the Department of Disaster Management. It is 9.15 metres long. The allocated cost is Tk 3,317,950. The project is being implemented by Babuganj Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Md Sohel Hossain.

A visit to the site found that one end of the bridge has no connecting road. The other end opens onto agricultural land. As a result, the structure cannot be used for regular public movement.

Local businessman Miraj Majhi said, “There had previously been an earthen embankment used by farmers. The embankment was cut during construction. Now we have neither the embankment nor a usable bridge.”

Another resident, Milon Majhi, said people once crossed the canal by ferry. A new road later reduced the need for that route. One bridge was enough for the area. The new one has no practical use.

Residents allege that the project was approved without a proper field assessment. Farmer Mujahar Majhi said construction started before Eid-ul-Azha but stopped shortly afterwards. He said transporting cattle and farm equipment has since become difficult.

PIO Md Sohel Hossain said continuous rain delayed the approach road work. He said a separate project would be taken to build the road after the monsoon.

Residents remain unconvinced. They ask why the bridge was built first while the road was left unconstructed. They also question whether the site was properly assessed before approval.

Babuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Asma Ul Husna said the PIO had been instructed to complete the bridge quickly. The approval process for a bridge without an approach road would also be reviewed, she added.