Ruling party 'in a hurry' to open Toiler Dwip Bridge

Toiler Dwip Bridge at Chanpur union in Banshkhali. PHOTO: STAR

Local people believe that as it was an election pledge, the ruling party is in a hurry to inaugurate the bridge this month to take benefit in the upcoming election.

The ruling party high-ups in Chittagong on several occasions announced several dates for inaugurating the bridge but all their declarations haven't come into reality yet, much to the displeasure of the people of South Chittagong region.

Construction work of the bridge started during the tenure of Awami League government in 2000 and was scheduled to be finished in 36 months that ended in April, 2003, sources said.

The AL government took the project of 521.23 metre two-lane concrete bridge with a view to developing communication in between Cox's Bazar, Chittagong and Banskhali and entrusted M/S Al Amin Associates Overseas with the work, they said.

Though construction work of the bridge has been finished few months ago, the approach road is yet to be connected with the bridge, sources said.

Meantime, some cracks have developed in some pillars of the bridge ahead of the formal opening for vehicular movements.

On the other hand, lessees of the lone ferry for crossing the river allegedly started extracting tolls illegally from the vehicles that venture to cross the bridge by driving over muddy and earthen approach roads.

They extract toll as many of the vehicles try to avoid the ferry for crossing the river, sources said.

According to sources under the direct and indirect supervision of local influential ruling party backed politicians, including an UP chairman of the area, they charge a CNG-run auto-rickshaw Tk 50, microbus Tk 150 and truck and bus Tk 300.

M/S Taher and Brothers, the firm for constructing the approach roads, filled the connecting point by sand instead of soil, sources said.

Locals living close to the bridge said once the bridge is inaugurated the remaining work would never be completed.

"We prefer the formal inauguration of the bridge only after completion of whole work and we are ready to wait for few more months," Kutubuddin, a local businessman, said adding that "We don't want to see an incomplete bridge just for political consideration by a certain quarter or party."

UP Chairman Zahangir Hossain, also a local Jubo Dal leader, denied the allegation of extracting tolls from vehicles for allowing them to cross the river over the under-construction bridge.

Roads and Highways Department (RHD) officials said the construction of approach roads will be completed by August 29 when Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is scheduled to inaugurate the bridge.