Thousands suffer as bridge lies without repair for 9 days

Thousands of people, including a good number of students, have to cross the Dumki Varani canal on small boats as the iron bridge over the canal, which collapsed last week, lies without repair.

A section in the middle of the 150-metre-long iron bridge collapsed suddenly on the night of September 29 as it had become weakened due to lack of maintenance.

Thousands of people, including over 800 students of the Lebukhali Government Primary school and Lebukhali Habibullah High School, have to suffer greatly as the bridge was the only means of communication between the two sides of the canal.

Fahim Ahmed, a student of Class IX of Habibullah High School, said "We have to cross the canal by boat daily, risking our lives, to go to the school."

Mohsina, a female student of the same class and school, said "We suffer more than boys to go to school regularly." They demanded immediate steps for reconstruction of the bridge.

School children cross the canal on a boat amid risk as the bridge is yet to be repaired. Photo: Star

Md Atiqul Islam, headmaster of Lebukhali Habibullah High School, said over 1,500 students and local people use the bridge to cross the canal daily. Students have to walk an extra 3-kms to come to the school avoiding the boat.

"We informed the local union parishad and the upazila and district administrations of the matter and urged them to take immediate steps to reconstruct the bridge as soon as possible, but in vain," the headmaster added.

Abdul Jabbar Sikder, chairman of Lebukhali Union Parishad, said the bridge has great importance for people of both sides. "We hope to start reconstruction as soon as possible," he added.

Md Shahjahan Sikder, chairman of Dumki Upazila Parishad, said the bridge has to be rebuilt immediately, considering the interest of the local people as well as the students. "We are taking steps over the matter," he added.