16 bridges are dangerous in one upazila, there is no progress in the reform

Due to lack of renovation in Barguna's Patharghata, 16 iron bridges have become impassable out of 50 iron bridges and 15 paved bridges built in different areas. Some of these bridges are broken and lying in canals. Thousands of pedestrians are traveling through these dangerous bridges every day. According to Patharghata Local Government Engineering Directorate (LGED) office sources,

Among the total 65 iron and concrete bridges in the upazila, 16 bridges have become vulnerable due to lack of renovation for a long time. According to their information, these bridges were constructed between 1997 and 2005.
According to the local residents, a major accident like the Haldia Hat bridge in Barguna can happen at any time. On June 22, the Haldia Hat iron bridge collapsed and 9 people died, including a microbus, falling into the canal. Fear prevails among them so that such incidents do not happen again. So they demanded to build these bridges quickly.
Locals also said that most of the bridges do not have dangerous notice boards. Yasin, Rabbi, Hossain Ali, Swapan Saha of Kathaltali in the upazila said that the bridge has not been renovated even once since its construction. Because of this, one side of the bridge is bent and the iron angle is damaged due to rust. The iron pole is also broken at different places. Even if the vehicles are far away, even if the common people walk, they shake on the bridge. Still people and vehicles are crossing the bridge at risk as there is no alternative route.
Zaman of Charduani area of ​​the upazila, Nannu Sobahan Saurav said that patients have to suffer a lot to cross this dangerous bridge. Their request is to remove the bridge or to repair it immediately. School students cross these bridges at risk. During the upazila election, the chairman candidates repaired the bridge with wood. But it has become dangerous again due to heavy rains.

When asked, Patharghata LGED engineer Chandan Kumar Chakraborty said that 16 dangerous bridges have been listed in the upazila so far. These have been sent to the Ministry in the form of a budget for construction. He said that the reconstruction will be done if the allocation is received.

When asked whether warning notices have been given on dangerous bridges, he said, warning notices have been given on dangerous bridges long ago. He said that the notice boards which were damaged would be re-installed.