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Repair Jamuna bridge to ensure smooth i train movement

Political, business leaders in northern districts demand

EAM ASADUZZAMAN, Nilphamari
Leaders of different political parties, chamber bodies and sociocultural organizations in northern districts have demanded iminedi ate repair of cracks in Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge to ensure smooth movement of train on it from northern districts.
They also urged the government to go for legal action against the bridge construction company Hyundai including Jamuna bridge authorities and bridge maintenance firm for alleged irregulari ties in construction and negligence in its maintenance.
The leaders are Awami League (AL) publicity secretary, former Nilphamari lawmaker and renowned cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor, former army chief and ex-lawmaker of Dinajpur Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Greater Rangpur Development Forum president Nazrul Islam, Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rafiqul Islam, Lalmonirhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Sirajul Haque, general secretary of Nilphamari Samity in Dhaka Engineer Zahid Hossain Prodhan and president of Lalmonirhat Students' Association in Dhaka SM Tanvir Shanto.
Gen Mahbub who was a mem-
ber of a high-level committee on Jamuna bridge led by the then communication minister in 1994 said if the recommendations of an investigation committee led by Brae vice chancellor (VC) Jamilur Reza Chowdhury was executed then the bridge could recover the setback.
When asked to comment on the bridge authorities' suggestion for suspension of rail communication through the bridge, he said it will go against the hopes and aspirations of people of northern districts. He said the cracks were due to error in design of the bridge and construction company's failure in ensuring quality work. 'Blame on train goes against the observations of experts', he said. He demanded uninterrupted train communication through the bridge following its repair.
AL leader Noor said five crore people of northern districts are concerned over development of cracks in the bridge. He said a bid is going on to suspend train communication through the bridge. In this context, he reminded that during commissioning of the bridge a certain quarter opposed the decision for introducing train communication through it. He said the same quarter has become active again for suspension of train communication through the bridge. He demanded an exem-
plary punishment to those responsible for negligence in duties during its construction as well as in maintenance of the bridge.
Dinajpur Chamber president Rafiqul Islam said if tire train communication is suspended, smooth plying of agricultural commodities to the capital will be hindered resulting in great loss to farmers. Lalmonirhat Chamber president Sirajul Haque echoed his sentiment.
Greater Rangpur Development Forum president Nazrul Islam opined for non-stop train communication .
Engineer Zahid Hossain suggested repair of the bridge on a crash programme basis.
Lalmonirhat Students' Association leader SM Tanvir Shanto said hundreds of students will be in trouble for suspension of trains.
Six inter-city trains ply through the bridge everyday. The trains are Silkcity, Padma Express, Teesta Express, Drutojan Lalmoni Express and Nilsagor Express. Railway income in this zone shot up by 23 per cent in this fiscal.
According to a report of a task force, cracks in the bridge were developed due to errors in design and its construction as well as due to improper maintenance.