Gopalpur bridge facing serious risk of collapse

The dilapidated bridge located at Gopalpur village in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj district is posing a serious risk of collapse, creating panic among local people.

Locals said the decades-old bridge has been run down and its pillars have broken. The people of 20 villages use the bridge which they has no alternative.

Hundreds of people, especially schoolchildren, suffer much while crossing it amid risk of life.

Accidents take place frequently on the bridge and its nearby areas. Soil on the approaches has washed away.

Locals alleged that the authorities concerned have turned a deaf ear to their longstanding demand for reconstruction of the rundown bridge.

“We’ve submitted several applications to the upazila LGED office to repair the bridge, but no results have yielded yet,” many a local said.

Adaoir Union Parishad Chairman Mir Mohammad Khorshed Alam alleged that he informed the upazila LGED office of the bridge issue and urged them to construct a new bridge there.

The elderly people of the area requested the authorities to construct a new bridge in place of the dilapidated one, he added.
Madhabpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer AKM Faisal who joined recently said that the matter would soon be checked and necessary steps would be taken.