SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali

A bridge built at a cost of nearly Tk 3 crore in Latachapli union of Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila has remained unusable for nearly a year due to the absence of approach roads, causing sufferings to locals.

According to sources at the Local Government Engineering Department, the 35-metre-long and 7.32-metre-wide bridge was built over the Khajura canal under the Disaster Risk Management Enhancement Project.

Construction began in February 2022, with an initial deadline of May 2023. However, the project saw prolonged delays, with the deadline extended several times, most recently until May 31 this year.

A recent visit found that although the bridge construction was completed around a year ago, work on around 200 metres of approach road on one end and 50 metres on the other has yet to begin.

As a result, residents of Khajura, Bahamkanda, Fashipara and Kolaipara villages have been suffering while travelling to the union parishad, highways, Kuakata bus terminal, and district and upazila headquarters, said Md Jahangir Hossain, president of the Ashrayan Cooperative Society.

Ayesha Begum, 55, of Fashipara village, said her granddaughter, a sixth-grader, has to use a bamboo footbridge every day to go to school.

“Now the water level is low, so crossing is manageable. But during monsoon, both sides become submerged, making it risky to cross the canal. Often, she cannot go to school,” she said.

Local resident Swapan Hawlader said soil was excavated from a site near their home for construction of the roads, causing waterlogging and inconvenience.

Sources at the LGED said contractor Gias Uddin of Patuakhali received the work order, but later allegedly handed it over to another party.

Monir Hossain, upazila engineer in Kalapara, said road construction began recently. “We hope it will be completed within May,” he added.

Gias could not be contacted for comments.