A bridge constructed nearly 25 years ago in Sujanagar Upazila of Pabna continues to yield no benefits for local residents due to the absence of connecting approach roads. On Saturday, a physical inspection revealed the 22-foot-high bridge standing isolated in Ramakantapur village under Dulai Union, with empty space on both sides and low ground underneath, which local farmers currently use to commute to agricultural fields.
According to locals and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) officials, the village, surrounded by Gajnar Beel, remains waterlogged for nearly six months a year during rains. When water recedes, farmers cultivate crops in the fields.
To facilitate crop transportation, local farmers demanded a road, prompting the LGED to construct the bridge in 2001 at a cost of approximately 12 lakh Taka in the open field. However, even after two decades, no connecting road has been constructed. Local resident Hasen Sheikh (55) remarked that he was a young man when the bridge was built, but it has served no purpose all these years.
Local resident Majeda Khatun added that a bridge was built unnecessarily in the middle of the beel without offering any public benefit. Jabbar Hossain from the same village noted that people from several surrounding villages use the adjacent low path, requiring boats during the rainy season, while the high bridge remains completely unusable.
When contacted, Sujanagar Upazila Engineer Johurul Islam stated that since the bridge was built many years ago, he was unaware of the details, but assured that he would inspect the site soon and take necessary initiatives.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by M A Alim Ripon, Sujanagar (Pabna) • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
