Kaptai, Rangamati: Villagers suffer as bridge damaged

A bridge connecting Dulonnye to the rest of Kaptai upazila in Rangamati has remained damaged for around one and a half months, causing untold sufferings to the villagers.

Heavy rains and onrush of hill water caused a waterbody to swell, resulting in huge damage to the bridge over it on June 14.

The 150-feet bridge was built by Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board in 2013 for light vehicular movement and crossing it on foot. It is the pathway for all modes of transport to come to the village in Waggya union or travel out of it.

Specially affected are the children who have to cross the bridge to get to school but now have to cross the waterbody in order to do so. Farmers also use this bridge to get their produce to the local Ghagra Bazar.

Hiron Tanchangya, 38, a local, said more than 200 families of Dulonnye village depend on the bridge for communication.

“If the bridge is not repaired immediately, things will definitely get worse during the monsoon,” he said.

Arun Talukder, 35, headman of Waggya Mouza, said students were the worst sufferers.

Suvash Tanchangya, a teacher at Agunia Chara Government Primary school, reiterated the problem. “It's very risky for them to cross the waterbody and go to school every day.”

Contacted, Muhammad Mujibul Haque, executive engineer of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, said the bridge was damaged due to the overflowing stream. 'We are working to repair it as soon as possible,' he said.