More than two centuries ago, a pucca bridge was built over the Fanai River on the Lakshmipur-Hashimpur road in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar. The bridge is now in a dangerous condition. Instead of building that bridge, the construction of a new bridge is underway to facilitate the movement of one family in the local area. There is a lot of anger among the people of 10-15 villages. Meanwhile, in October last year, two brothers of the same family, Haji Abdullah, 60, a resident of the local Hasimpur village, and Hasim Mahajan, 58, a businessman of Rangichhara Bazar, died in an accident on the bridge. The locals are now living in fear of death due to the lack of construction of the bridge.

Meanwhile, a written petition signed by about 150 people of Kulaura Sadar Union and Karmadha Union has been submitted to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer on 31 October demanding the construction of a new bridge.

According to the written application and local sources, a bridge over the Fanai River on the Lakshmipur-Hashimpur road has been in a dangerous condition for three years. Local people are running the risk of death. But during the then Awami League government, in 2018, a proposal was made to construct a new bridge through the Upazila Project Implementation Office at a cost of about Tk 1 crore on the local Deochara to connect the road to the house of Narsamlu Rajbhar alias Chhami Babu, a former UP member of the Karmadha Union Parishad, with the nominated people of Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, an MP elected from Kulaura constituency. Though the project was sanctioned by the government, work has not started. Later, Chomi Babu’s son Gopal Rajbhar, the convenor of Karmadha Union Jubo League, contacted former MP Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, who was elected from Kulaura constituency during the Awami League government. Because Gopal Rajbhar had a very good relationship with Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel. Later, in March-April this year, the construction of the bridge in front of Chami Babu’s house at the tender hall of the bridge started, which angered the local people. Locals have warned of a tougher movement if the construction of the risky bridge over the Fanai River on the Lakshmipur-Hashimpur road is not stopped.

Sources also said that during the excavation of the Fanai River at a cost of about Tk 17 crore in the 2021-22 fiscal year, the middle place of the bridge could be given if the mountain water from the upstream falls in the heavy rain. At the same time, about 200 feet of the Rangichhara-Laxmipur-Gutguti road collapsed on the embankment on the eastern side of the bridge. When the bridge became dangerous again in the last flood, there was a fear among the locals. In such a situation, people are walking on the road along with the bridge.

It is known that the bridge, which is about 24 meters long, was constructed under the initiative of LGED in 1997-98 fiscal year. On the Lakshmipur-Hasimpur road, at least 40,000 people from Hasimpur, Beri, Gutumpur, Rangichhara of Karmadha union, Lakshmipur, Pratabi, Gutguti, Purshai, Bhatgaon and Deogaon of Kulaura sadar union, and Nartan, Kabiraji and Palgram of Rautgaon union commute to Rangichhara Bazar of Karmadha union every day for different purposes. Besides, the students of Lakshmipur, Gutguti and Pratabi went to Babania Hasimpur Nizamia Dakhil Madrasa on the other side of the bridge. On the other hand, the students of Babaniya, Gutumpur, Beri and some nearby areas went to Lakshmipur Mission and Agrani High School across the bridge.

It can be seen that local people, including school and college students, are crossing the bridge cautiously while walking at risk. A limited number of small vehicles are also moving on the road with the same risk. At any moment, the bridge will collapse into the river and all traffic will be stopped.

Helal Ahmed, UP member of Karmadha union, Alauddin Kabir, journalist of Lakshmipur village, Rahel Ahmed, Zubair Hannan, Babul Ahmed and 25-30 people expressed their anger. Local upazila administration officials, including senior officials of LGED, visited the bridge several times and hoped to build the bridge soon, but no practical initiative was taken to build the bridge. Meanwhile, keeping the bridge of public importance, a new bridge is being built in the Rangichhara area to facilitate the movement of 15-20 people of Chami Babu’s family, but the people of the area do not know anything about it. The authorities concerned should have examined the feasibility of building a bridge on the land and built a bridge that would benefit the people.

Expatriate Atiqul Rahman, a resident of the area, said: “My father and uncle were injured while walking on the bridge. They later died in the hospital. Considering the risk of human death soon, the initiative should be taken to build the bridge.

District Project Officer Shimul Ali said that during the tenure of the then MP Sultan Mansoor, the construction of the girder bridge was first proposed at a cost of about one crore rupees. But now 1 crore rupees will not work. At present, a request has been sent to the higher department to modify the proposal and construct a box culvert of 28 feet length at a cost of Tk 22 lakh.

Executive Engineer of LGED’s Moulvibazar district office Md. Ahmed Abdullah said he inspected the bridge and the road on the ground and sent a proposal to the higher authorities for the construction of the bridge. He said the damaged roads and bridges would be repaired.

District Administrative Officer Mohiuddin said he had received a written complaint from the locals. Further action will be taken after inspection.