Home ›› 28 Oct 2022 ›› Nation
The under-construction bridge on Ratandari canal at Raninagar upazila in Naogaon is causing immense suffering to thousands of people in the locality as it is left unfinished for over six years.
According to local sources, the 10-km long Ratandari Canal, stretching from Kujail Sluice Gate of Choto Jamuna River to Raktadaha Beel, was dug by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in 1994 to facilitate irrigation and boat movement in the area. The canal flows through 10 villages of Kashimpur and Gona unions of the upazila.
However, communication for around 15,000 people in those villages became a problem due to the lack of a bridge over the canal. Since the inception of the canal, students’ commuting to schools and the transportation of agricultural products has been a hassle for the residents of the two unions.
Locals can cross the canal on foot in the Bengali months of Chaitra to Ashar (mid-March to mid-June) as the canal remains dry during this time. For the rest of the year, boats are the only means of transportation for the residents. However, boats are not always available.
Considering the suffering of the locals, Raninagar upazila parishad allocated Tk 18.5 lakh from the Annual Development Programme (ADP) in 2016 for the construction of a bridge over the canal.
In March of the same year, LGED appointed Naogaon city’s Golam Kibria’s contracting farm for the bridge’s construction through tenders. The construction work of the bridge started under the supervision of the upazila engineer, but for unknown reasons, it was left unfinished after the construction of only two pillars.
Local people alleged that the contractor was billed in full even though the work was not completed.
In 2022, about Tk 14 lakh was allocated again from the upazila parishad’s ADP fund for the construction of two more pillars. Another tender was floated under the supervision of LGED, and a contractor was selected following the rules.
However, according to local sources, the contract was cancelled as the contractor did not start the work at the scheduled time nor did they apply to extend the contract.
The locals demand the construction of the bridge to be completed soon to end their suffering.
Majid and Khalek, farmers of Bhavanipur village, own arable lands in Sarbarampur village. They said transporting harvest during the monsoon is troublesome. Hiring boats to transport harvest costs them a fair portion of their profits.
Lutfar Rahman and Rasheduzzaman, residents of Dangapara village, said the partial infrastructure of the bridge is getting damaged due to being left like that for such a long time.
Gulnahar Khanam, head teacher of Sarbarampur Government Primary School, said many students have quitted studies as they could not come to school on time. The school is the nearest one for many in five-six villages of the upazila.
Sarborampur Government Primary School on the north side of the canal is about a 10-minute walk from Bhavanipur village, situated on the south side of the canal. However, due to the lack of a bridge, students of Bhavanipur have to go to a school about five km away.
Not only the students but some of the teachers also live across the canal and as boats are not always available during the monsoon, crossing the canal is troublesome for them.
Raninagar upazila LGED Engineer Shahidul Haque said the work has been delayed mainly due to a lack of funds.
“The contract made in FY 21-22 was cancelled as the work did not start by the scheduled time. We will call for tender again to implement the project,” he said.
Raninagar upazila parishad Chairman Abdur Rauf Dulu said they are trying their best to complete the construction of the bridge.
“We are aware of the positive socio-economic changes this bridge will bring, besides it will reduce the sufferings of many villagers residing on both sides of the canal,” he said.
In response to a question, he said Tk 14 lakh has been allotted this time for the construction and that he is unaware how much was allotted the first time.
The chairman further said that he does not know whether the recent tender contract has been cancelled or not.
“As far as I know, the construction work could not begin as the canal was full to the brim during monsoon,” he said, adding that they are trying to finish the work soon.
