SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali

Within the last eight months, at least 10 iron bridges over different canals in Haldia and Chawra unions under Barguna’s Amtali upazila have collapsed, causing immense suffering to around 65,000 residents.

The latest incident occurred on Friday, when the dilapidated bridge over Raugha canal gave way.

The bridge in Haldia Hat collapsed on June 22 last year while a microbus carrying wedding guests was crossing it, leaving 10 people dead.

Bridges in Mallikbari, Bashbunia, Sonauda, Haldia Boro Molla Bari, Kathalia Baje Sindhuk, Kathalia Madrasa, Chandra Auwal Nagar, and Char Raugha areas have also collapsed since then.

Thousands of residents have been struggling with their daily commute within the upazila and to Barguna district headquarters, with students, patients, and elderly people being the most affected.

All these bridges were constructed in 2008.

Locals alleged that contractor Md Shahidul Islam Mridha, also president of Haldia union unit Awami League, used poor-quality materials during construction and demanded his punishment.

According to residents, the Local Government Engineering Department in Amtali upazila awarded Shahidul the tender for constructing 21 iron bridges in Haldia and Chawra unions in the 2007-08 fiscal year, allocating Tk 2 crore for each bridge.

They alleged that Shahidul, the then chairman of Haldia union parishad, used his influence to secure the tender and completed the construction with substandard materials.

The bridges were supposed to be built using iron beams and angle plates, but low-quality materials were used instead, causing rapid deterioration, said Nasir Hawlader, a resident of Chawra village.

He said two bridges over the Chawra canal had already collapsed, severely impacting residents.

Jalal Mir of Haldia area urged authorities to reconstruct the bridges to ease public suffering.

Md Asaduzzaman Mintu Mallik, incumbent chairman of Haldia union parishad, confirmed that 10 bridges had collapsed in the past eight months, disrupting communication for thousands of people. He called for urgent reconstruction.

Shahidul Islam could not be reached for comment as his phone was switched off. He has reportedly been in hiding since August 5.

Idris Ali, upazila engineer in Amtali, claimed the bridges collapsed due to a lack of maintenance over the years.

Md Mehedi Hasan, executive engineer of LGED in Barguna, however, said the contractor was involved in irregularities during construction, which led to the collapses. He said they would conduct an investigation and take necessary actions.