Bridge being built with low quality materials

Locals alleged that the bridge over the Dharla river channel is being built with low quality materials for only Tk 5 lakh while the old one that was built at the same place at a cost of Tk11 lakh collapsed in two years.

Authorities of Durgapur Union Parishad (UP) under Aditmari upazila of the district are constructing a 42-foot long and six-foot wide bridge over the Dharla river channel after Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation's (BADC) bridge collapsed in 2013.

The bridge will connect 200 families with the mainland at Degree Char village in the union.

UP sources said they got Tk 5 lakh from the Local Government Support Programme to build the bridge.

 "BADC's bridge collapsed as low quality materials were used in its construction. Low quality materials are being used for constructing this bridge also," said Jobed Ali, 48, of the village.

Abdus Samad, 55, of the village said they built a bamboo bridge over the canal to connect with the main road, and they used it till February this year.

Contractor Babu Islam said no plan or design was prepared for this bridge, and he was building it from his experience. The construction of the bridge would be completed by December this year, he hoped.

Durgapur UP Chairman Salequzzaman Pramanik said the bridge would be used as foot over-bridge, and no vehicles would be allowed to cross it, adding that it was being constructed properly and there was no chance that it would collapse in 10 years.

Executive Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department Al Amin Khan said a minimum of Tk 20 lakh is needed to construct a 42-foot by 6-foot bridge with an engineering plan.

 Villagers urged the authorities to build a durable bridge to save them from further suffering.