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5 bridges, culverts at risk of collapse

The structures in Lalmonirhat become vulnerable due to strong current in Teesta

S DILIP Roy, Lalmonirhat
Two bridges and three culverts on Kakina-Mahipur road in Kaliganj upazila have turned too risky and may collapse anytime due to strong current in the Teesta river.
The 5.5-kilometre road connects four upazilas of Lalmonirhat with Rangpur city through the newly constructed Sheikh Hasina Bridge over the Teesta river at Mahipur in Rangpur's Gangachara upazila.
Officials at Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) in Kaliganj upazila said the two bridges and
three large culverts were constructed at a cost ofTk 16 crore about five years ago.
Lalmonirhat LGED Executive Engineer SM Zakiur Rahman said the bridges and culverts were constructed on 10-metre to 20-metre-wide canals, following proper designs.
"Due to collapse of an embankment upstream and strong current in the Teesta river this year, the 20-metre canal now has turned into a 500-metre channel," he said.
Azizul Islam, 62, of Rudreshwar village in Kaliganj upazila, said due to strong current in Teesta a portion of the approach
road to one of the bridges collapsed on September 14, just two days before the inauguration of the newly constructed Sheikh Hasina Teesta Bridge.
"Communications through the bridge remained suspended for two days till the collapsed portion was temporarily repaired on September 16," he said.
“Now all the approach roads connecting the five bridges and culverts are in vulnerable conditions and may collapse anytime due to the strong current of the Teesta," said another local Nazrul Islam, 55.
Kaliganj upazila LGED Engineer Parvez
Newaz Khan said they have dumped sand bags at several vulnerable points of the approach roads to save the bridges and culverts from collapsing.
It's not possible to save the roads, bridges and culverts from collapsing if no dyke is built to protect the Teesta river embankment soon, he said.
A project has been taken to build a dyke upstream of the newly constructed Sheikh Hasina Bridge to save the Teesta river embankment, Rangpur WDB Executive Engineer Mehedy Hasan said, adding that the work would start in the upcoming dry season.