Collapsed bridge unrepaired for seven months

A bridge over the Chandkathi canal under Nazirpur upazila of the district has remained unrepaired after it collapsed about seven months ago, causing great suffering to thousands of people.

Locals said the iron bridge in front of Naotana BM High School collapsed in January this year because it had become weak due to sometimes being hit by vessels loaded with sand, cement and other materials. As a result, thousands of people of Dirgha, Dewulbari-Dobra and Malikhali unions under the upazila are facing serious troubles in crossing the canal.

Now, people have to pay to cross the canal by boat ferry.

"After the bridge collapsed, we started using boat ferry to cross the canal," said Ashim Kumer, a local of Chandkathi village. "But we have to face troubles at night as the boat ferry is not available then," he added.

"A new bridge over the canal is needed immediately to remove the suffering of the people in our area," said another villager, Sarwar Hossain.

Md Shah Ali Ashraf, headmaster of Naotana BM High School, said, "Students are facing a lot of trouble in crossing the canal as the sides are too rough too for getting on and off the boat ferry."

Jakir Hossain Mia, Nazirpur upazila engineer, said they have asked the higher authorities to build a girder bridge over the canal.