Bridge collapses within a year
Use of substandard materials alleged
The bailey bridge at Hossainpur Bazar in Kishoreganj that collapsed within a year of its construction.Photo: STAR
A bailey bridge constructed by the Roads and Highways Department (R&H) collapsed within a year of its construction, allegedly due to use of substandard materials. The bridge on a narrow tributary of Brahmaputra at Hossainpur Bazar in Kishoreganj inaugurated on August 10 last year collapsed on August 8 this year. It was built at a cost of Tk 15,94,900. Talking to this correspondent during a recent visit, locals claimed that the bridge collapsed due to use of substandard materials, not for pressure of floodwater. Floodwater did not approach the bridge and even the soil on both sides of the bridge were not eroded by water, they said. The approach roads to the bridge were also not submerged by water, they said. But officially it was shown that the bridge collapsed due to pressure of floodwater, sources at Roads and Highways Department said. Soon after collapse of the bridge, the contractor who was given the construction work by allegedly ignoring the lowest bidder was again given the contract to remove collapsed materials of the bridge, R&H sources and locals said. This was done to remove evidences of substandard work, they claimed. During the visit it was seen that connecting roads on both sides of the bridge were not eroded but its brick build structures on both sides were displaced that caused collapsed of the bridge. Contacted, executive engineer Joinal Abedin of Kishoreganj R&H said, the contractor who built the bridge was engaged to rebuild the bridge on emergency basis.
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