Satyajit Das (Moulvibazar Correspondent):
The 232-meter-long Rajapur Bridge was built over the Manu River to connect Hajipur and Sharifpur unions with Prithimpasha in Kulaura Upazila of Moulvibazar.
Although the construction work was completed in June 2021 at a cost of Tk 32 crore, it has not been operational due to the lack of a connecting road. The bridge's functionality is hampered by land acquisition complications, as a result of which local residents are still crossing through risky ferry crossings.
Meanwhile, due to illegal sand mining, the soil under the bridge pillars has shifted, putting the infrastructure at risk. Despite repeated demands from local residents, the administration has not been able to take effective action. The Moulvibazar district administration said that initiatives have been taken to stop sand mining by operating mobile courts, but a permanent solution is still uncertain.
Local resident Faizul Haque said on Saturday (February 22), "The bridge is being damaged due to sand mining before it is operational. If the administration does not take action now, the government will lose Tk 32 crore."
Former chairman of Prithimpasha Union, Abdul Latif, said, "We were very happy that the bridge was built, but it is of no use as there is no connecting road. If it is operational, it will make travel easier for thousands of people and will also have a positive impact on the rural economy."
Rafiqul Islam, a resident of the riverbank, said, "We saw a ray of hope after seeing the new bridge, but even after four years, it has not been operational. Our suffering continues as there is no connecting road."
The Roads and Highways (RHD) Department said that a plan has been taken to acquire 46 acres of land and construct a connecting road. RHD Executive Engineer Kaiser Hamid said, "The connecting road work will be completed by December 2025. We have informed the district administration to stop sand mining, as there is a risk of damage to the bridge if immediate action is not taken."
The locals have been waiting for this bridge for a long time. Human chains and memorandums have already been formed demanding the completion of the fast-track road and an end to illegal sand mining. Now it remains to be seen how quickly the administration can resolve this problem.
