A bridge built over a canal in the district's Madan upazila has been lying unused for 10 years as it does not have approach roads on either side.
Lack of connecting roads is causing immense suffering to people of nearby villages, alleged locals.
As there is no approach road, around 20,000 people under 10-12 villages of Tiyashree and Fatehpur unions are deprived of getting any benefits from the bridge, said one of the locals.
Located in Tiyashree union, the bridge constructed in 2012-13 fiscal over Khuraikhali canal by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief was supposed to connect Daulatpur-Bareura road, according to the Upazila Project Implementation Office.
Aziz, a resident of Daulatpur village, said, "Instead of the bridge, pedestrians are now using the sluice gate of the crop protection dam built next to the bridge."
This could damage the sluice gate, he added.
Abul, an inhabitant of Bareura village, said, "The bridge cannot be used for lack of soil in front of the connecting roads."
When asked about this bridge, Tiyashree Union Parishad Chairman Fakhar Uddin Ahmed said, "We will soon take initiatives so that the bridge can be made useable. And for this, we will have to fill the voids by soil."
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Shawkat Jamil said, "The approach roads will be repaired this year."
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Bulbul Ahmed echoed the same.
shafikul2002@gmail.com