Thousands of people in Tangail Sadar upazila have been facing immense sufferings due to delay in construction of a bridge on Louhajang river.

Since the bridge was not constructed in stipulated time, about one lakh people living in different unions under Sadar, Kalihati and Basail upazilas have been compelled to move several kilometres more to go to their destinations.

On January 13, 2020, Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) gave worker orders to two local construction firms (joint venture) to build the 296.360-metre-long bridge at a cost of Tk 28.10 crore.

The work was scheduled to be completed by June 12, 2022.

But, after constructing the pillars of the bridge, the construction firm stopped the work in January last year, citing increasing prices of construction materials, locals alleged.

Sub Assistant Engineer at Tangail LGED Torab Ali, also the supervising officer, said only 45 percent of the bridge construction work have been completed so far.

"On the other hand, villagers filed several cases, demanding money of the land acquisition, Torab said.

They have already received notices from the court in this regard, he added.

As a result, thousands of villagers are being deprived of getting easy communication facilities.

Villagers said they are still crossing the river in small boats, risking their lives.

Gharinda Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Tofayel Ahmed said the important bridge will connect part of Sadar and Kalihati upazila with neighbouring Basail upazila.

They have urged the authorities concerned on several occasions to complete the bridge construction work as early as possible, considering woes of thousands of locals, he added.

Contacted, Tangail LGED Executive Engineer Rafiqul Islam said they have already cancelled the work order of the construction firm.

Moreover, construction work of the bridge will remain suspended until the cases, filed by the villagers, are settled, he added.

They have sent an estimated cost for the remaining incomplete work to the higher authorities so that they can start the work as soon the pending cases are resolved, the engineer said.