Bridge lies unused due to lack of approach roads

Thousands of people of 11 villages have been suffering a lot for several months due to lack of approach roads on both sides of a bridge over the Suryaduba Khal in between Gouripur and Mymensingh Sadar upazilas.

The construction of the bridge was completed at a cost of Tk 31 lakh more than three months ago, but the approach roads have not been constructed yet.

Hazrat Ali of Durbar Char village said, "The bridge has brought no benefit to us as we cannot use it. We have to sufer a lot, epecially during the rainy season."

Abdul Quddus, a van puller, said for lack of approach roads they have to travel some 10 to 20 kiometers more to reach Mymensingh town.

The villages are famous for producing quality vegetables and seasonal fruits that go to Mymensingh and Dhaka, said some farmers.

Ahsan Habib Malek, a member of Bhangnamari union parishad (UP), said the village people are facing severe trouble in transporting their agricultural produce, especially vegetables, to different makets.

Sometimes we face trouble in carrying critical patients to the local health complex or to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital due to disruped communication system, he added.

Contacted, Mubinur Rahman, project implementation officer (PIO) of Mymensingh Sadar upazila, who also  supervised the bridge constructon, said the work of the approach roads is being hampered due to political rivalry between the local union parishad chairman and Awami League men.

Admitting the uselessness of the bridge without approach roads, the PIO said construction of the approach roads will start soon. Contractors' bill of around Tk 5 lakh is still pending as the approach roads have not been completed, he added.

Denying the allegation of political feud, Fazlul Haque Sarker, chairman of Bhangnamari UP, said it is best known to the authorities concerned why construction of the approach roads has remained incomplete.

"I informed the Gouripur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) regarding the issue and he has visited the spot recently," the chairman said, adding that the UNO assured us that he would take immediate steps to mitigate the sufferings of the people of the 11 villages.