A 40-foot bridge constructed at a cost of Tk 3.1 million has collapsed in only three months, causing extreme suffering to commuters.
The bridge was constructed over the Abashongami canal at Purba Dhoniram of Fulbari in Kurigram under the ‘15 metre wide and breadth bridge/culvert construction project’ on the rural roads under Disaster and Relief Department, reports UNB.
ATM Dilder Hossain Titu, a contractor of Kurigram old station, built the bridge at a cost of Tk 3.07 million.
It is being alleged that the bridge collapsed on August 11 this year as it was constructed using low-quality materials, not using rod-cement as per requirement and other irregularities.
During a visit at the spot, the correspondent found that the main structure of the bridge collapsed as the walls flanking the bridge moved away from the main structure, causing it to subside.
“The thin rod became visible from the collapsed portion. At present vehicles cannot move through the bridge. Besides, soil was not applied on both sides of the link road,” alleged locals.
Many local residents including Roich, Shah Alam and Bojle Rahman informed that “the bridge was constructed on a canal having no current”, raising questions as to how the bridge tilted and collapsed.
“The government money was spent to build the bridge in a densely-populated area but to serve the interest of whom,” they said.
Meanwhile, local UP Member Abdul Hamid informed that “the bridge was not constructed as per the estimate which caused the collapse of the bridge.”
“The damage was caused due to removal of soil from under the bridge after the recent flooding,” said Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Sabuj Kumar Gupta.