Kurigram Correspondent: The Directorate of Disaster Management has constructed a bridge at a cost of Tk 54 lakh at Roumari in Kurigram. The bridge collapsed a year after its construction. Even after three years of its collapse, 15 thousand people of seven villages are suffering because the bridge has not been rebuilt.
Locals complained that the bridge collapsed after a year due to poor quality materials and unplanned construction. Therefore, the local people demand that a sustainable bridge be built quickly on the important road.
It has been reported that a bridge of 60 feet length was constructed on the western side of Charshulmari Bazar of Charshulmari Union under the bridge/culvert construction project of Disaster Management Directorate in 2016-2017 financial year. A contractor named ‘Ms Monirul Islam’ got the work of the bridge. A total of 54 lakh 4 thousand 650 taka was spent on the construction of the bridge.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) supervised the work. The construction of the bridge was completed in 2018. A year later, the bridge collapsed.
It can be seen on the surface, the middle of the bridge built on the canal is broken. The soil of the connecting road on both sides of the bridge has collapsed. A bamboo bridge has been built next to the broken bridge for people to travel. The condition of Sankoti is also shaky. Thousands of people including children and students are crossing at risk.
More than 15 thousand people of Ghughumari, Charghughumari, Sukherbati, Chargendar Alga, Moezerchar, Khedaimari and Sukherchar areas of Charshulmari union of the upazila are suffering due to the collapse of the bridge. Charshulmari Degree College and Girls High School is a little away from the broken bridge. There are also 4 government primary schools in the area. Thousands of students of these institutions travel.
Local residents of Charshulmari Union Nazrul Islam, Aynal Haque, Khorshed Alam and Jel Haque said that they are in a lot of trouble due to the collapse of the bridge. Now they have to take risks in their own bamboo bags. They alleged that the bridge collapsed within a year due to the use of poor quality materials and unplanned construction.
Chairman of Charshulmari Union Parishad AKHM Saidur Rahman said that at that time the bridge was built unplanned and without piling. As a result, it collapsed after a year of construction. It is necessary to construct a durable bridge at that place to reduce public suffering.
Monirul Islam, owner of the contracting firm M/s Monirul Islam, said that low-quality materials were not used in the construction of the bridge. Dredger machines were placed on the side of the bridge to lift the sand and it collapsed.
Roumari Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Meshkatur Rahman said that he is aware of the matter and informed the authorities.
Roumari Upazila Engineer (LGED) Yuvayet Hossain said that a proposal has been sent for the construction of a bridge at that place. Construction will be done if approved.
