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Work of Sayestaganj Bridge progressing at snail's pace

From Rajat Kanti Goswami
MOULVIBAZAR. Sept 1: Construction work of Sayestaganj Bridge over the river Khowai on Dhaka-Sylhet highway Is progressing at snail's pace
As a result, the people of the Sylhet division have been suffering a lot. This important bridge connects Sylhet division the other parts of the country.
Following damage of Sayestaganj Bridge on Dhaka-Sylhet highway the entire Sylhet division has been separated from the rest of the country. Rail communication with Sylhet and rest of the country remained disrupted since June last following Magurchhara gas field fire incident.
Trains are being run up to Srlmongal station from Dhaka and Chittagong. Bus service is continuing up to Sayestaganj from Dhaka, Chittagong and other parts of the country. But rail and bus service to and from Sylhet are yet to be restored,
Sayestaganj Bridge com-
pletely broke down in mid-July. As a result road communication from Sunaihgonj, Sylhet and Moulvlbazar districts has remained disrupted with the rest of the country.
There is no scope for opening ferry service in Sayestaganj as the river Khowai is very narrow. Bangladesh Army has constructed a floating bridge at Sayestaganj. But this floating bridge has failed to serve the purpose. According to engineering point of view, the floating bridge is suitable for stagnant water. There is strong current in the river Khowai. Due to heavy current the newly constructed floating bridge remains closed for a few hours every day. The passengers are compelled to cross the bridge on foot to change vehicles.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated Taka 69 lakh 17 thousand 471 to construct a 420-metre long another bally bridge over the river Khowai at Sayestaganj. According to the
design, the bally bridge will be built on 4 pillars. Work order for construction of bridge has been given and work has already been started. According to the schedule, the bridge must be constructed within 45 days. But now, uncertainty has been prevailing about completion of the work.
A source of the Roads and Highway (R&H) Department said, it is impossible to complete the construction work of the bridge within 45 days. He explained, the river Khowai has been flowing with a strong current in this season. It is a hilly river which originated from the Tripura hill of India. The main problem is that water level rises or declines with a couple of hours. In such situation the engineers can not lay foundation of pillars.
Another source of R&H department told on condition of anonymity, the above mentioned problem is not a vital one. He disclosed the real prob-
lem is, there Is no good technician who are involved in the construction project of Sayestaganj Bridge. So. the department is trying to hire a good technician to construct the pillars of the bridge. He, however. expected that the bridge would be constructed soon.
However, the main Sayestaganj Bridge was built in 1942. It was heavily damaged during the War of Liberation in 1971. After liberation the bridge was repaired and opened for vehicular traffic. Even after repairing, the bridge remained very weak and it was restricted for plying heavy vehicles.
No government took any initiative to construct a new bridge at Sayestaganj over the river Khowai on Dhaka-Sylhet highway for the last 26 years. Three districts of Sylhet division namely Sunamgonj. Sylhet and Moulvlbazar have remained totally cut off from the rest of the country since breakdown of this vital bridge.