Bridge over Ichhamati in Pabna town in awful state

Due to lack of maintenance, Kheyaghat Bridge on the Ichhamati River in Pabna municipality area of the district is in a miserable state.

The townspeople are using the bridge to go to the district headquarters amid risk of accident everyday.

Constructed in 2001, the bridge remains dilapidated for over three to four years, causing immense sufferings to local people.

Although both side railings of the bridge collapsed four years ago, the authorities are yet to take any step to repair it, alleged locals.

It provides direct link between eastern and western parts of the town while most of the auto-rickshaws ply through the bridge for avoiding huge traffic jam in the main connecting bridge.

Locals criticised sheer negligence of the municipality authorities for not repairing this important bridge for long.

They are afraid of carrying even goods weighing only 8-10 maunds over the bridge as it has become too risky to use, said Samsul Islam, a local.

Another local, Khaibar Ali, said townspeople often get injured while crossing the dilapidated bridge by bicycle or rickshaw.

Contacted, Executive Engineer of Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) Md Abdur Rashid Khan said a 24 metre long bridge will be built there soon at a cost of Tk 2.69 crore.