The jetty of Amtali upazila food office in Barguna has become unfit for use as it has not been repaired since 2007.

Labourers have been loading and unloading vessels using the badly damaged jetty for at least 11 years. An accident might take place anytime if the authorities do not take steps to repair the jetty

Amtali Upazila Food Officer Robindra Nath Biswas said a wooden jetty was set up on a steel structure on the bank of Payra river in 2003 to load and unload rice and wheat for the upazila food godown. But since then, the jetty was not repaired and has become unfit for use, he added.

In 2007, the jetty was badly damaged by cyclone Sidr and its wooden planks have fallen down. Labourers have to place extra planks on the steel structure to load and unload goods.

They have to carry sacks of rice or wheat, weighing 50 kg to 100 kg each, over the jetty at the risk of their lives.

Md Nizam Uddin, labour sardar (head) of the food godown, said the jetty became unfit for use as it has not been repaired after it was damaged by Sidr.

They have to carry heavy sacks at the risk of their lives and authorities should take immediate steps to repair the jetty considering their interest, labourers said.

"We informed the higher authorities about the matter several times, asking them to take steps to repair the jetty," the upazila food officer said.

Barguna District Food Controller (DC food) Md Shahidul Islam said they requested the higher authorities to take steps to repair the jetty.

"We will take immediate steps to repair it after discussing with the higher authorities," he added.