Bridge over Bhadra awaits inauguration at Dacope

KHULNA, Oct 11: Construction of the extended portion of the PC girder bridge over the Bhadra River in Dacope Upazila of the district has been completed, bringing relief and excitement to over 4 lakh residents as long-awaited connectivity becomes a reality.

With the finishing touches on the connecting road, vehicles have already begun using the bridge, which is now awaiting formal inauguration. Built at a cost of Tk 50.75 crore, the bridge is located near Shingjora Government Primary School and Kalinagar Bazar in Dacope Union.

The 661.685-metre-long and 7.3-metre-wide bridge, including its extension, was constructed under a Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) project titled “Construction of Nine Important Bridges and Programme for Supporting Rural Bridges” jointly financed by the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank.

The bridge includes an 895-metre HBB connecting road and establishes direct road communication between Polders 32 and 33, linking seven unions of Dacope with the upazila headquarters and Mongla Port.

Previously, Dacope’s residents, spanning islands identified as Polders 31, 32, and 33, relied heavily on ferry services. The new bridge eliminates ferry crossings between Polders 32 and 33. Kamarkhola and Sutarkhali unions lie on the western side (Polder 32), while Dacope, Laudobe, Kailashganj, Bajua, and Banishanta unions sit on the eastern side (Polder 33).

Project records show the original tender was invited during the 2016-17 fiscal year, with PTSL Maitri (Pvt) Limited awarded an initial contract of Tk 37.43 crore. Construction began on August 15, 2016, with a target completion date of February 14, 2018.

After multiple extensions, the contract was cancelled when the initial contractor failed to finish the work. A fresh tender in the 2019-20 fiscal year awarded the remaining work to Kohinoor Enterprise of Barishal, represented by Mehdi Hasan Chowdhury. That contract was also cancelled due to delays.

Ultimately, MBEL-AEC-K (JV), a Dhaka-based contracting firm from Niketan, Gulshan, completed the remaining work under a Tk 13.31 crore contract, bringing the total project cost to Tk 50.75 crore.

“The extension of the main girder bridge and the connecting road has been fully completed,” said Zahirul Islam Khan, Director of MBEL-AEC-K (JV). “The authorities can inaugurate the bridge at any time.”

Local residents and union representatives expect the bridge to streamline goods transport, boost trade, and enhance market access for farmers, driving agricultural and commercial growth across Dacope, Paikgachha, and Koyra upazilas.

Dacope Union Parishad Chairman Binoy Krishna Roy and Kamarkhola Acting UP Chairman Nur Hossain noted that the crossing has fulfilled a vital communication need among the polders and unlocked new business opportunities.

LGED Dacope Sub-Assistant Engineer Milan said the project was executed according to design specifications, maintaining high quality through rigorous monitoring.

LGED Khulna Executive Engineer Md Kamrul Islam Sardar added that the bridge will significantly improve mobility in the disadvantaged areas of Koyra, Paikgachha, Mongla, and Dacope. “It will also contribute to the development of agriculture and marketing systems and help improve the living standards of local people,” he said.