About 20,000 residents of Sonagazi upazila of Feni and Companiganj upazila of Noakhali district are in distress as no concrete bridge has been constructed over the Chhoto Feni River at Kazirhat since it collapsed 22 years back.

The bridge, collapsed in 2002 due to high tide, was the only mean of crossing it for the people of two upazilas of Feni and Noakhali districts.

Despite promises from public representatives and political leaders, the bridge has not been built even after 22 years.

Sources said a Regulator-cum-bridge with 20 gates was built over the Chhoto Feni River in 1961-62 at Kazirhat in Sonagazi upazila during Pakistan era to protect the coastal areas of the district from tidal surge.

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The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) got the task of management and repair work of the regulator.

WAPDA conducted maintenance work till 1970 and later it was renamed as Water Development Board.

In 2002, the Regulator-cum-bridge washed away by the tidal surge due to lack of proper maintenance.

In the absence of a bridge, the residents of thr two upazilas rely on boats and nearly 100-1500 people cross the 200 meter river everyday by boats.

Local people said they have to face huge problem while transporting goods to different areas in absence of alternative means.

A number of markets including haats were located on one side of the river including Kazirhat, Darogahat, Keramatia Bazar, Jamadar Bazar, Chan Mia and Olama Bazar in Sonagazi upazila while on the other side, Charhazari, Charparboti, Moulvibazar, Kadamtala Basurhat and Chowdhury Haat were located under Companiganj upazila.

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During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found that people were crossing the river by boats while some were waiting to cross the river.

Talking to UNB, Asia Begum and Rahela Akter—two housewives, said they have to cross the river several times in a day spending Tk 60-90 which is a burden for them as well as waste of time.

During the rainy season, the boat movement remains suspended, intensifying the woes of people.

After the Esha prayers, the boat movement was suspended, so if someone falls sick at night, the people of the area had to suffer a lot to get the help of the nearest doctor and the health center for treatment.

Gias Uddin Mamun, a resident of Kazirhat area, said it is one of the most important routes for people and when there was a regulator-cum-bridge, small size vehicles were seen flying over it.

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He also demanded immediate steps to build a concrete bridge over there.

Shah Alam, a resident of Charparboti in Companiganj upazila, said every time during the national parliament election and local elections, the public representatives, including the MPs of the two upazilas, promised to build the bridge, but no one kept the promise after the election.

Akram Hossain, a farmer of Char Hazari union of Companiganj upazila, said “A large number of agricultural products are produced in the coastal areas of the two upazilas. Due to lack of bridge local farmers have to face problems in marketing their produced products. It costs more to transport it by boat.”

He also demanded the construction of a concrete bridge there to mitigate public suffering.

Abdul Quader Mozahid, an engineer of the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED), said a survey report was sent to the LGED but no move has been taken yet.

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The government has given approval for constructing a 75 meter long concrete bridge but now a 120-metre need to built over ot, he said.

New steps should be taken for constructing over 100 meter long bridges there and the Noakhali Roads and Highways Department has taken an initiative in this regard, he added.

Shakhawat Aziz Bhuiya, deputy assistant engineer of Noakhali Roads and Highways Department, said already a survey report was sent and the work to hand over the file from Companiganj-Kazihat is under process.

Zahir Uddin Mahmud, chairman of Songazi Upazila, said “We have informed the matter to the Road Transport and Bridges Minister for building a concrete bridge over the Chhoto Feni River and following his directives, the Roads and Highways Department took initiative.”

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