United News of Bangladesh

Nearly five years after construction began, a bridge in Patuakhali that was meant to improve connectivity remains unusable, leaving around 10,000 residents of eight villages struggling with daily hardships. Initiated by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in 2021 at a cost of about Tk 3.5 crore, the bridge was designed to connect Kuripaika with neighbouring Bhuria Union and ease transportation for local residents. Although the main structure has largely been completed, the absence of approach roads on both sides has prevented the bridge from being opened to traffic. Locals  are being forced to use temporary wooden ladders to cross the structure, exposing themselves to safety risks on a daily basis. “I was going to Patuakhali Sadar Hospital for treatment when I slipped from the wooden ladder while trying to climb the bridge,” said Ramzan Ali, a resident of Kuripaika village. “Fortunately, I was not seriously injured, but I could not continue my journey that day. Crossing the bridge is extremely difficult for elderly people like us,” he said. Local people said residents of at least eight villages—Kuripaika, Bhuria, East Kuripaika, West Kuripaika, Kamalapur and Soula—depend on the route for their daily movement. Students, farmers, fishermen, traders and office-goers use the crossing as one of the area’s key communication links.

At least 2,000km of the road networks in 12 upazilas of Sunamganj district have been badly damaged due to the recent flooding. Most of the roads under the jurisdiction of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) have suffered damage. Walking on the roads has become difficult, let alone riding on motorcycles and three-wheelers. According to Joynal Mia, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, the Sunamganj-Doara-Chatok road is so submerged in floodwater that it looks like a canal. The only way to go through this road now is by boat. Read:Water level falls in Surma & Kushiyara in Sylhet, Sunamganj Besides, bitumen and stones used in Daukakhali-Brahmangaon-Ambari road have been washed away by floodwater. No one can tell there used to be a road in this area by looking at it now.

Ahead of the Finance Minister placing the national budget for the 2020-21 fiscal in Parliament, the country’s steel manufacturers have placed an 8-point list of demands, including extension of bank loan repayment date by 6 months, for which they wouldn’t like to see the central bank degrade their status as borrowers. 

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam on Monday urged all official concerned to implement the development work after maintaining proper safety and hygiene during the pandemic coronavirus situation.

A doorway of new possibilities is set to open for flower farmers of Gadkhali in Jashore, distinguished as the Flower Capital of the country, where the government is establishing the first flower processing centre and a modern flower market.