Dulal Mia, Sunamganj

As the alternative bridge of Najlur river in Jagannathpur upazila sadar of Sunamganj district was submerged due to continuous rains, traffic through the bridge has been stopped since Monday morning. As a result, millions of people have suffered indescribably. Allegations have been made that due to the irresponsibility of the concerned, the bridge sank in the water at the beginning of monsoon. The locals demanded that the bridge should be raised, but the people involved lowered the bridge and submerged it in the water. Meanwhile, the dangerous Dak Bungalow bridge of Nazlur river is in serious danger. As the main bridge over the Naljur river food warehouse was demolished for construction, the Bailey bridge was installed in the city’s helipad area as an alternative bridge. As this bridge also became immobile, the traffic pressure increased on the narrow dangerous bridge of Dak Banglo. Due to which long traffic jams have increased unlimited public suffering. Local residents and LGED sources said that in 1987, the bridge was built over the Naljur River with the funding of the Ministry of Relief. A traffic jam is created as two large vehicles cannot move on the bridge at the same time. That is why the local government took the initiative of demolishing this old bridge and constructing a new Drishtinandan arch bridge through LGED at a cost of 14 crore taka. After the foundation stone of the bridge was laid by Planning Minister MA Mannan, the construction of the new bridge started. As an alternative, a Bailey bridge was constructed. The people of the area complained that while constructing the alternative bridge, they expressed fear that it would sink during the monsoons and demanded to raise it higher, but the officials of the local government engineering department, LGED, did not take it into consideration. On the other hand, in 1988, the people of the area started the construction of the Dakbungalow bridge over the Naljur river by collecting subscriptions. The bridge work was completed in 1996 by the local government engineering department. Since then, small vehicles move through this narrow bridge. In 2021, during the excavation of Naljur river, two parts of the bridge could be given when the earth was cut from the pillar of the bridge by the excavator. On March 23, after a year of suspension of traffic, the local government engineering department opened the bridge by placing a steel footing on the bridge. Jagannathpur Press Club President Shankar Roy said, “The alternative bridge and the connecting road of the bridge sank in the helipad area next to the warehouse, causing traffic to stop. We had initially demanded that the alternative Bailey bridge be raised higher. Dak Bangla Bridge is also at risk. Urgent steps will be taken to reduce the public suffering. needed.” Jagannathpur municipality councilor Suhail Ahmad said, “Both the bridges over the Naljur river belong to LGED, the local government engineering department. We demanded that the alternative bridge be raised. Considering the public grievances, the municipal authorities are also working with LGED regarding this bridge.” Sohrab Hossain, Upazila Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department LGED said, “Due to excessive rains and hill slopes, the connecting road of the alternative Bailey bridge has sunk. Water has also risen on the bridge. If the water does not rise, the bridge will remain operational. On the other hand, the municipal authorities have been asked to remove piles of debris to reduce the risk of Dak Banglo Bridge,said.”