Although the construction of RCC bridge over Kalamiar Bazar Canal in Bauphal of Patuakhali district was completed about two years ago, the connecting road has not been constructed. Thousands of people of Dhulia and Keshabpur Union have to suffer due to this sort of negligence. Locals are crossing the bridge with wooden and bamboo poles.
Not only the Kala Mia Bazar Bridge, but many bridges in the upazila are not connected by roads, so many lakhs of people are suffering. It is alleged that due to the lack of supervision of the upazila LGED, the contractor has left the construction of these connecting roads for years.
According to related sources, in the financial year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, about one and a half million Tk were spent on the construction of Kalamiya Bazar Bridge of Upazila Keshabpur Union, Bridge adjacent to Dhulia UP, Dhulia-Kalishuri Road Bridge, Kachipara Bridge, Birpasha Bridge and Bridge adjacent to Diara Kachua Khia Ghat of Chandradwip Union. LGED contracts with several contractors for construction. Although the construction of the main bridge has been completed, the connecting road has not been constructed. The bridge adjacent to Dhulia Union Parishad has been abandoned for more than one and a half years with only piling. As the construction work of these bridges is not completed, lakhs of people are suffering from communication with the upazila city.
Chairman of Dhulia Union Parishad Humayan Kabir Dewan said that many passengers of Dhaka-Bauphal route and many people of Bhola-Patuakhali travel on this route every day. Everyone is suffering because the bridge is not built. Around 4 km route has to be traveled by alternative route. A social worker of Keshabpur Union named Mojibur Rahman said that the bridge in Kalamiya market is scary. Every day, thousands of people are traveling with the local made Sanko at the risk of their lives.Abdul Jalil, the representative of the contractor of the bridge under construction on the canal adjacent to Dhulia Union Parishad, said that after the construction of the bridge started, the price of construction materials has increased, so the work has been suspended. Construction will be resumed soon.
No statement from the contractor was received regarding the non-construction of the connecting road of the bridge. Even representatives of those contracting firms refused to speak.
In this regard, Upazila LGED engineer Sultan Hossain said that the contractor has been given several notices to resume the abandoned work. The last 30 days notice was given in the last week of October.
If the work is not started within this time, the contract with them will be canceled and the license will be blacklisted.
