Bridge collapse during Roanu causes woe to 20,000 villagers

Over 20,000 people of six villages under Amtali upazila of Barguna district are suffering as the bridge over the Banshbunia Canal collapsed during the recent cyclone Roanu.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) built a concrete bridge over the Banshbunia Canal under Haldia union in 2006 at a cost of Tk 40 lakh. Over 20,000 people of Jogotchad, Moddhya Tepura, Dokkhin Tepura, Purbo Tepura, Uttar Tepura and Dokkhin Taktabunia villages used the bridge to communicate with different places, including the upazila headquarters.

Several hundred students of Senerhat Government Primary School and Taktabunia High School used this bridge to go to their educational institutions. The middle portion of the bridge collapsed and communication was snapped totally during cyclone Roanu on May 21.

Locals, including a good number of school going students, have to cross the canal by country boats, which is very risky.

Ashis Kanti Howlader, headmaster of Senerhat Government Primary School, said accidents often occurred while crossing the river, and boats have capsized at least several times, injuring students and villagers.

Lamia of Class V, Nasir of Class II, Dishari of Class IV, Imran of Class I of the school sustained injuries at different times due to boat capsize. This has spread fear among the students, he added.

ABM Sobhan, headmaster of Taktabunia High School, said the authorities concerned should take immediate steps to repair the bridge.

Md Shahidul Islam Mridha, chairman of Haldia Union Parishad, said  they have informed the LGED about the matter.

Contacted, Md Nazrul Islam, upazila engineer of LGED, said they have already sent a letter to the higher authorities for funds to repair the bridge. "We will take steps to repair the bridge after getting allocation," he added.