A bridge to nowhere

A concrete bridge, built on Khuraikhali Canal in Netrakona's Madan upazila, has been lying unused since its construction nearly a decade ago for lack of approach roads on either side.

As a result, thousands of inhabitants of 10 villages under Fatehpur and Tiyosree unions in the upazila have been still struggling a lot to reach their desired destinations.

Funded by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the bridge on Dulatpur-Bareura road was built at a cost of over Tk 26 lakh, in 2012-2013 fiscal year, to ease communication for the people of the two unions in the haor area.

But due to lack of approach roads on either side, the bridge is of no use for local people, villagers alleged, adding that despite repeated pleas the authorities concerned did not took any necessary measures in all these years to mitigate their sufferings. 

Locals said the bridge on Khuraikhali Canal has remained useless since the approach roads on both sides of the bridge were washed away by strong current the following year of its inauguration.

Abul Hossain of Fatehpur village said, Dulatpur-Bareura road is the easiest way to reach Balali Bazar and Tiyosree Union Parishad (UP) from Bareura.

But in the rainy season, local people have to travel on boats to reach different villages under Tiyosree union, which is only five-kilometre from the upazila headquarters, he said.

While talking to this correspondent, Tiyosree UP Chairman Fakhar Uddin Ahmed said people of several villages under his union use the road every day.

A cross dam has been built along the Chiknir Haor and local people use the it as an alternative to reach their destinations, the UP chairman said.

It is very difficult for the farmers to carry their agricultural products to the nearby markets, which is also depriving them from getting fair prices of their produces, he added.

Contacted, Madan Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Shawkat Jamil said they were planning to repair the approach roads, with concrete blocks, to protect it from the onrush of waters and flash flood.