United News of Bangladesh

Once, villagers crossed the Chhoto Feni River by boat as there was no bridge or connecting road. Now, although a Tk 9.2 crore bridge stands over the river in Feni’s Daganbhuiyan upazila, there are still no approach roads, forcing thousands of people to use makeshift iron staircases to cross it on foot. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) built the 60-metre bridge on the Matubhuiyan-Bekar Bazar road to improve connectivity between communities on either side of the river. Although the main bridge has been completed, the connecting roads remain unfinished, leaving the structure largely unusable years after its construction. The absence of approach roads has made vehicular movement impossible, while the considerable difference in height between the bridge and the existing road levels also makes pedestrian access difficult. Meanwhile, residents of Momarizpur have alleged that a temporary embankment built across the river during construction obstructs the natural flow of water, causing floodwater to spill into their homes and damage houses, tube wells and toilets.

For thousands of residents in Sonagazi upazila’s Chardarbesh and Bogadhana unions, a collapsed bridge is more than a broken structure—it is a daily ordeal that has stretched for over six months. The bridge over the Badar Mokam canal, once a vital link between these two unions, gave way during last year’s devastating flood, leaving behind a fractured lifeline and mounting public suffering. Dhaka-Aricha highway blocked for 5 hours over road closure Since the collapse on August 24, communication between Motiganj and Daserhat, as well as between Chardarbesh Keramatia and Bagdana Kazirhat, has remained disrupted. What was once a seamless journey now demands detours, additional costs, and the ever-present risk of crossing a makeshift bamboo bridge that the villagers themselves erected. “I used to reach Kazirhat Bazar within minutes. Now, I either have to take the long route or cross this fragile bamboo bridge. Both ways, I suffer,” lamented Gias Uddin Mamun, a local trader. The absence of a proper bridge has hit students the hardest. Commuters suffer as Bhola bus workers go on strike The attendance at Bagispur Government Primary School, local kindergartens, and madrasahs has dwindled as children struggle to commute safely. Parents fear for their academic future. “My son cries every morning, refusing to go to school because of the risky crossing,” said a worried mother from Chardarbesh. Authorities are not unaware of the crisis. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and upazila administration visited the site months ago, pledging a Tk 20-lakh bailey bridge. But six months on, work is yet to begin. “Officials assured us of a new bridge, but nothing has been done. How long must we wait?” questioned Mainul Islam, a frustrated resident. LGED’s Deputy Assistant Engineer Nazmul Huda clarified that the original bridge was built 25 years ago by the Water Development Board without pillar foundations. “The strong current during the flood eroded the soil underneath, causing the bridge to collapse completely,” he explained. Despite visits by the World Bank and other delegations, action remains elusive. 15 fishermen kidnapped in Sundarbans: 3 robbers held Sonagazi Upazila Executive Engineer Abdul Quader Mojahid reiterated that the construction of a new 30-meter bailey bridge has been approved and will commence soon. Beyond transportation, the collapsed bridge has triggered a ripple effect, affecting the local economy and infrastructure. Emon, a driver, highlighted how riverbank erosion in nearby Noakhali’s Companiganj upazila due to the Muchapur regulator’s breakdown has further aggravated the situation. “People are losing homes, farmlands, and roads. If authorities delay any longer, the damage will be irreversible,” he warned.