FENI, Jan 31: Residents of Charsahabhikari Village in Chardarbesh Union under Sonagazi Upazila are facing severe communication challenges after a bridge over the Badar Mokam Khal (canal) collapsed during devastating floods in August. The bridge, a vital link for local transportation, was washed away, cutting off road connectivity and leaving thousands of people stranded.
Since the collapse, no significant efforts have been made to reconstruct the bridge, forcing locals to rely on a precarious bamboo pathway to cross the canal. The suspension of road communication has disrupted travel along the Motiganj to Daser Haat-Chardorbesh-Keramotia-Bogdana-Kazirhat route, affecting the daily lives of people in two unions.
According to sources, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) had planned to construct a 30-metre bailey bridge at an estimated cost of Tk 20 lakh. However, the project is yet to commence, leaving the community in distress.
A recent visit to the site revealed that the bridge's main structure has partially sunk into the canal, with the earth on both sides eroding significantly. To address the immediate need, locals have built a makeshift bamboo pathway beside the collapsed bridge. Students and residents are seen risking their lives daily by using this unstable crossing.
Local residents recounted that the bridge collapsed after heavy flooding on August 24 caused severe erosion on the northern side. Two days later, the Musapur Regulator broke, allowing tidal water from the Feni Chhota River to surge into the area, further eroding the southern side and leading to the bridge's complete collapse.
Since the incident, communities in Chardorbesh and Bogadan unions have endured immense hardship. Residents are now forced to take longer alternative routes, incurring double transportation costs. Students from Bagispur Government Primary School, a local kindergarten, and a madrasa in Charsahabhikari Village are particularly affected as many are unable to attend their educational institutions due to the lack of a safe crossing.
Guardians of the students expressed their frustration, stating that children from distant areas are struggling to reach schools and madrasas. They also criticised the lack of action from authorities, noting that while some upazila and LGED officials initially inspected the site, no follow-up measures have been taken. In desperation, locals pooled resources to build the bamboo pathway, but it remains unsafe and unreliable.
Abul Kalam, a teacher at a local primary school, highlighted the severity of the situation. "The broken bridge has caused immense suffering for the community. Students are unable to attend school regularly, and people are afraid to use the bamboo pathway. Transportation has come to a standstill. We urgently demand the immediate reconstruction of the bridge to restore normalcy," he said.
A businessman at Kajirhat Bazar Nazrul Islam said, it is regretting that despite passing of about six months, the authorities did not take any initiative to rebuild the bridge.
A CNG-auto driver Jahirul Islam said, "Because of the broken regulator, excessive tide in the river erodes localities. Our living houses, croplands, roads, bridges and culverts cannot be protected."
Sub-Assistant Engineer Nazmul Huda said, LGED did not construct the bridge over the Badar Mokam Khal; it was built by Water Development Board about 25 years back without pile foundation; it was built under brick pillars with RCC girder; that is why strong current caused slide to the beneath earth and the bridge collapsed completely.
After the flood, several representative teams including World Bank inspected the broken spot, he added.
Sonagazi Upazila Engineer Abdul Quader Mujahid said, a step has been taken to build a 30-metre bailey bridge at Tk 20 lakh; the project has already been approved; the construction work will begin soon.
