OUR CORRESPONDENT,
Mymensingh
The construction of a bridge over Rangamatia canal on the Phulbaria-Trishal road in Mymensingh’s Phulbaria upazila has remained incomplete for the last four years, causing immense suffering to residents of at least 15 villages.
The work order for the 60-metre bridge, with an estimated cost of Tk 3 crore, was issued to Messer’s Islam Brothers, a Dhaka-based construction firm, in December 2020. Construction was inaugurated in 2021, but progress has since stalled.
Villagers from Polashtoli, Raghunathpur, Andariapara, Chowder, Radhakanai, Gobindapur, Dhurdhuria, Chhalimpur and several other areas rely heavily on the road. The incomplete bridge has left them grappling with severe transport difficulties, especially during the rainy season, said locals.
Jannatul Ferdous, an honours student from Chowder village, said, “The suffering intensifies during the monsoon. Hundreds of students and around 2,000 industrial workers face serious trouble due to the lack of a bridge.”
A wooden bridge was recently constructed by locals to facilitate travel between Phulbaria and Trishal, but it is risky. “Several people have been injured in recent months trying to cross it,” said Kabir Uddin Harun, a local journalist.
Md Tofail Hossain, a retired agriculture officer from Naudhar village, said without a concrete bridge, villagers are forced to take longer alternative routes to reach the upazila headquarters, resulting in additional time, expense, and hardship.
The surrounding villages are known for producing pineapples, turmeric, Lal Chini, and fish, but poor connectivity prevents farmers from fetching fair prices. “Middlemen pocket most of the profits as farmers often have to sell their goods from home,” said Hazi Golam Mustafa of Chowder village.
Locals alleged that the construction firm abandoned the site years ago, citing negligence by officials.
Md Mahbub Hasan, sub-assistant engineer of the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) in Phulbaria, denied any negligence on their part. “We have repeatedly written to the firm, but they have not responded. They have been saying they’ll resume work soon,” he said.
Contacted, Md Ariful Islam, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Phulbaria, said he was recently made aware of the issue and assured that immediate steps would be taken to alleviate the suffering of the locals.