Several hundred thousand residents in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj are going through severe hardship due to the poor condition of three major bridges over the Naljur River.

These bridges, located in the heart of the upazila, have become increasingly unsafe, causing constant traffic jams and raising concerns over potential accidents.

One of the main bridges, situated near the food warehouse in Naljur area, has been under construction for over a year and a half, after the old bridge was demolished.

Despite initial promises, the new bridge is only about 60 percent complete, with no end in sight.

Meanwhile, another bridge, the Dak Bungalow Bridge, is under threat due to increased vehicle pressure, and its narrowness is causing frequent traffic congestion.

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The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing use of an alternative Bailey Bridge, which operates under one-way traffic. The approach road to this bridge is in terrible condition, making it difficult to navigate.

Adding to the problem, a bamboo bridge built for pedestrians next to the new bridge is rapidly deteriorating, making it almost impossible to walk across safely.

Zakir Hossain, a local resident of the area, said "We are fed up with the constant demolition and delay of these bridges.”

 “We’ve been living with this problem for too long, and the administration has not taken effective action," Zakir added.

Another passerby, Shamim Ahmed, said that the crowd in the area has increased significantly after the Upazila Sadar was converted into a municipality.

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“Lakhs of people are suffering due to the pitiful condition of these bridges," he added.

The issues surrounding these bridges have a long history.

In 1987, the original bridge in front of the food warehouse was built with the initiative of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

However, during the tenure of the previous government, it was demolished, and on March 26, 2023, former Planning Minister MA Mannan laid the foundation for a new bridge, modeled after Hatirjheel in Dhaka.

The project was estimated to cost Tk 14 crore and work was given to Kishoreganj-based contractor M/s Bhati Bangla Enterprise.

However, despite the expectation that construction would be completed by April 2024, the work has been progressing at a slow pace, with only 60 percent of the work completed.

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Local residents raised concerns during the bridge's construction, warning that it might go under water during the monsoon and urged for it to be raised.

However, their concerns were ignored, and the bridge sank during heavy rains and flash floods, causing traffic to be closed for three to four months each monsoon.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Dak Bungalow Bridge on the same river began in 1988 with funds from locals and businessmen, and was completed in 1996 by LGED.

In 2022, the bridge was damaged when an excavator accidentally cut through its pillar during river excavation work. This led to an 11-month closure of the bridge, with the only available traffic route being the damaged alternative bridge.

Even after steel plates were installed to temporarily restore the Dak Bungalow Bridge, its condition remained precarious, and traffic was restricted due to the heavy vehicle load and rising water levels.

Saiful Alam, site manager overseeing the construction of the new bridge, said that delays were partly due to the rising water levels in the river.

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However, he assured that construction was now progressing rapidly and would be completed soon.

"We expect the construction work of the bridge to be finished by February," said Sohrab Hossain, Jagannathpur Upazila Engineer at the Local Government Engineering Department.

Once the new bridge is completed, it is hoped that the public suffering will ease.

However, until then, the residents of Jagannathpur remain caught in a cycle of traffic chaos, safety concerns, and frustration over ongoing delays.

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