Thousands of people are using a subsided wooden bridge on the Chhoto Jamuna river in Joypurhat, risking their lives.
The temporary wooden bridge, which is the only option for people to cross the river at Baramanik in Panchbibi Upazila, has subsided in the middle due to the strong currents in the river.
Besides, the bridge has become more dangerous as garbage floating in the river has got stuck on its bamboo-made poles.
Any serious accident can occur at any time if the bridge is not repaired immediately. A bridge was built in the 1960s at Baramanik of Chhota Jamuna river which flows along the boundary of Panchbibi upazila town in Joypurhat district and it is known as Mauritala Bridge. As the old bridge became dangerous for traffic, the Local Government Engineering Department demolished the risky bridge and started construction of a new bridge of 90.06 metres length at the beginning of this year at a cost of about Tk 9.5 crore. Until the construction of the bridge is completed, the bridge construction contractor has constructed a ramp made of bamboo and wood to facilitate the crossing of common people, van-rickshaws and motorcycles.
In such a situation, due to the continuous rains of the last few days and the strong current of the river coming down from the upstream, the soil at the base of the bridge’s bamboo poles has shifted and the bridge has subsided in the middle. As a result, the wooden bridge has become risky for public movement.
However, some workers on behalf of the contractor company and locals are trying to reduce the risk by removing water hyacinths and garbage stuck on bamboo poles.
Local Government Engineering Department’s Joypurhat District Executive Engineer Md Alauddin said due to the heavy water flow in the river, the bridge has become somewhat dangerous. Necessary steps will be taken to keep the bridge open for public, he said.
