A risky wooden bridge built over the Teesta River branch at Belka Bazar ferry ghat in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha has remained unrepaired for nearly one and a half years after being washed away by flood currents, causing immense suffering for around 20,000 residents of Belka and Haripur unions.
Local people said the bridge, constructed on concrete pillars in an unplanned manner, was swept away by strong flood currents in October 2024, only nine months after its construction. Despite repeated assurances from the local administration, no permanent repair or reconstruction work has yet been undertaken. As a result, residents are now risking their lives by using a temporarily repaired structure arranged locally with bamboo supports and makeshift materials. According to local sources, the bridge was constructed under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) during the 2022-23 fiscal year with an allocation of Tk 2.895 million from the upazila parishad. Allegations of irregularities surfaced from the very beginning of the construction work.
Although the bridge work was officially shown as completed on June 30, 2025, locals alleged that poor planning and substandard construction led to its collapse within months. The project was implemented in the name of contractor Shahanur Islam, while Sagir Khan of Bamandanga reportedly worked as the sub-contractor. The bridge design was prepared by the upazila engineering office.
Harun Mia, a businessman of Belka Bazar, questioned who would take responsibility for the prolonged suffering of thousands of char dwellers.
"People of Belka and Haripur unions had long demanded the bridge. Now the bridge has collapsed and no effective initiative has been taken. We seek the attention of the higher authorities," he said.
Rubel Mia, a student from Belka Char, said local students were initially delighted after the bridge was constructed.
"But before it could properly serve the people, it was washed away by the Teesta's current.
Now we are again dependent on risky boat crossings," he said.
More than 300 students from several educational institutions, including Belka MC High School, Belka Monika Girls' High School, Belka Degree College, Belka Majidpara Girls' High School, Belka Government Primary School and Belka Monika Government Primary School, use the bridge daily.
School teacher Abdul Jalil Mia blamed negligence and irregularities by the contractor and local representatives for the condition of the bridge and demanded its immediate reconstruction.
Belka Union Parishad member Md. Golzar Rahman said no effective step had been taken by the administration over the past 18 months to repair the collapsed bridge.
"For now, the Union Parishad and local residents have carried out temporary repairs using bamboo structures so that people can at least move on foot," he said.
Upazila Engineer Tapan Kumar Chakraborty said a proposal for a new bridge over the Teesta branch river at Belka ferry ghat has already been sent to the authorities.
However, he added that the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) currently has no plan to repair or reconstruct the damaged bridge.
