James Abdur Rahim Rana, Jashore 

The construction of the Bhairab Bridge connecting Basundia-Bagharpara in Jashore has not started yet even though the project period has expired on February 17, 2025.

Two years ago, the Bhairab Bridge connecting Basundia and Bagharpara upazilas of Jessore Sadar Upazila was demolished for a new construction. Although the start date of the work was set for August 27, 2023, the construction work was stuck due to design complications. The residents of the area have been suffering due to the non-implementation of this project worth Tk 10 crore. As a result, the suffering of millions of people is increasing day by day.

Under Program for Supporting Rural Bridge" Project of LGED, the construction work of the 81-meter-long bridge was awarded to the contractor MD Moinuddin (Banshi) at a cost of 106.41 million taka through the Bangladesh government and the World Bank financing agency. The deadline for completing the work was February 17, 2025. But even though six months have passed since the deadline, the contractor concerned has not been able to start work due to design complications. 

The Department of Local Government Engineering said that the connection bridge was demolished in early 2023. Since then, the construction work has been stuck due to design complications. The new design is awaiting approval. The department has already arrived from Dhaka for an on-site inspection. The work will start once the new design is received. 

The source said that the Basundia-Narail road has exited the Jessore-Khulna highway in the Basundia intersection area of Jashor Sadar Upazila. 

At the end of Basundia Bazar, Sadar Upazila is on the south side of the Bhairab River and Bagharpara Upazila is on the north side. And these two upazilas are connected by the 180-foot-long Bhairab Bridge. Since the bridge was unusable, it was demolished in early 2023 for reconstruction. But construction work has not started even today. Even though a Bailey bridge was built next to the bridge, heavy vehicles cannot pass through it.

 People and businessmen on both sides are suffering due to this. They are suffering financially due to the lack of a bridge. They demand that the bridge construction work be started soon.

According to the Local Government Engineering Department, more than a million people used to travel over this bridge every day.

 In addition, after the Padma Bridge was commissioned, the movement of heavy vehicles, including long-distance buses, on the road has doubled. Heavy vehicles leaving from Narail and Khulna are using the Charabita Ghunir Ghat road. As a result, there is a traffic jam on this road, and this small road is being damaged.

Mizanur Rahman, president of the local Aladipur Bazar Committee, said, "The bridge has been demolished for a long time. After the demolition of the bridge, we are facing a lot of problems in our movement, business and trade. The Bailey bridge that has been built is also risky. This has increased suffering.

Bishwajit Adhikari, a businessman in Basundia Bazar, said, Basundia is a large market. It is a major hub for various local fruits including kathal, litchi, betel, mango, paddy, rice, jute. This market is bustling all year round. After the bridge was demolished, there is a problem in bringing goods in trucks. The cost of traveling by many routes has increased. The construction of this bridge should be started quickly.

Rafiqul Islam Tuku, a businessman, said, "The bridge connects Jessore Sadar and Bagharpara Upazilas. People from 20 villages around the bridge travel on this route. Everything is closed due to the absence of the bridge. The construction of the bridge should be started quickly at this moment."

Ahmed Mahbubur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Jessore, said that the connection bridge over the Bhairab River was demolished in early 2023. Since then, the construction work has been stuck due to design complications.

 The new design is awaiting approval. An expert team from Dhaka has already arrived on site and conducted a survey. The work will begin once the deadline is extended and a new design is received.