Residents are facing severe difficulties due to a risky and dilapidated bamboo bridge built over a canal on the connecting road between Panchaldia village of Kukutia Union and Rusdi village of Tantar Union in Sreenagar Upazila.
Hundreds of people from the two unions use the road daily. The worn-out bamboo bridge, located in front of Ganguli Bari over the canal on the Bagbari-South Charigaon road, has now become a source of constant fear for commuters.
Students of Rusdi High School and several other educational institutions, along with residents of nearby villages, are regularly crossing the fragile bridge despite the risks involved.
Locals fear the bridge could collapse at any time, potentially causing a major accident.
During a visit to the site, it was observed that the bridge, situated on the earthen road connecting Sardar Bari of Panchaldia village under Ward No. 8 of Kukutia Union to Rusdi village under Ward No. 6 of Tantar Union, is in extremely poor condition.
Several bamboo poles have been loosely placed with large gaps between them, forcing school students, elderly men and women, children, and other pedestrians to cross the bridge while risking their safety.
Several students of Rusdi High School said they travel to school from Panchaldia, Jurasar, Muslimpara, and Dattagaon villages using the Panchaldia-Rusdi road. However, the unsafe bamboo bridge has become a major hazard in their daily commute.
As the bridge has not been repaired, they said they are compelled to risk their lives while crossing it. Local residents urged public representatives and the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to renovate the bridge and reduce the risks.
Ward No. 6 member of Tantar Union Parishad, Md. Abu Mollah, said initiatives have already been taken to renovate the bamboo bridge to ease public suffering, especially for school students.
He added that at least Tk 200,000 is required to construct a wooden bridge at the site, and Tk 100,000 has already been arranged. Discussions have also been held with the Union Parishad chairman and local representatives of neighboring Kukutia Union.
Ward No. 9 member of Kukutia Union Parishad, Abdul Kaiyum Mintu, said discussions are underway to remove the risky bamboo bridge and construct a wooden bridge there. He added that work would begin soon with the cooperation of local residents to solve the problem.
