Half of the under-construction Tk. 30 lakh bridge over the river Teesta in Belka Kheyaghat area of Belka Union of Sundarganj Upazila of Gaibandha has collapsed into the river.

On Tuesday (October 8) morning, this half of the bridge from the northern side collapsed due to the force of the current. Locals alleged that the bridge collapsed due to the indifference of the engineers in charge and the irresponsible work of the concerned contractor.

Earlier, on the night of June 24 this year, 90% of the work was completed; the four CC pillars in the middle of this bridge went unsettled. At that time, the four pillars of the bridge gave way before the construction work was completed, and the local people raised questions about the project's effectiveness and planning.

According to local sources, for a long time local people used to cross the river by boat from Belka Ghat of Belka Union of Sundarganj Upazila. Boats were the only means of communication for the people of Haripur-Belka Union on both sides of the river there. At least 20,000 people from the Char area of those two unions used to travel by boat along with goods. Sick patients and common people including students going to schools, colleges and madrassas suffered due to various reasons while crossing the boat. Later, in view of public demand, Sundarganj Upazila Parishad took the initiative to build a bridge in Belka Ghat area to alleviate their suffering. Sundarganj Upazila Engineering Directorate (LGED) got the responsibility of constructing the bridge at the cost of Tk.30 lakhs of ADP. This office of the upazila also designed the bridge.

According to LGED sources, in the financial year 2022-23, the annual development program (ADP) for the construction of this bridge with a length of 200 meters and a width of 6 meters is estimated to cost Tk. 30 lakh. A contractor company named Sana Enterprises of Saghata got the responsibility for the construction of this wooden bridge.

Construction of the bridge, which began in August 2022, was scheduled to be completed by May 2023.

But in the middle of January 2024, the responsible contractor withdrew the bill with the connivance of the office officials without working. At that time no safety railing was provided on any side of the bridge. Also, wood was used instead of cement slabs for the bridge deck. Later, when the matter came to light, the work started in February of the same year and ended in mid-June. But as the quality of the work was very poor, the four pillars in the middle of the bridge could be given away within a few days on the night of June 24 with the rise of water in the river. Locals were angry because the long-desired bridge was damaged so quickly.

Later, on June 27, three days after the incident of pillar going to unsettled, newly transferred Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tariqul Islam and the upazila engineer of the department implementing the work, Abdul Mannaf, visited the bridge.

After inspecting the bridge at that time, UNO Tariqul Islam told the media persons that a five-member investigation committee has been formed in the incident of four pillars of the bridge collapsing before the inauguration. The committee has been directed to submit its report within the next three working days. UNO also said that legal action will be taken if indifference or irregularity is observed against the concerned parties including the contractor in the report.

But even after going to unsettled Pillar, hundreds of thousands of people from the Char area of Belka and Haripur Union of Upazila were crossing over that bridge at risk. However, within a few days, the bridge was damaged and their communication was cut off. Then, when the water level rose for the second time in the river, three months after the pillar was passed, today (October 8), half of the bridge collapsed and disappeared into the river.

Ibrahim Khalilullah, chairman of Belka Union Parishad (UP), expressed his anger over the fact that the long-awaited bridge was first given a pillar and later collapsed into the river.

Meanwhile, Chairman Ibrahim Khalilullah said that four pillars could be given before the work of the bridge was completed last June. And on Tuesday morning, half of the bridge collapsed into the river. The earlier sufferings of the masses, the sufferings remain. Tk. 30 lakh was wasted from the middle.

Sundarganj Upazila Engineer asked about the collapse of the bridge. Abdul Mannaf told Barta24.com on mobile phone around 8:30 pm, "I don't know about the collapse of the bridge. Today, someone told me that the bridge has collapsed. The matter has been told to the sub-assistant engineer. Let's see if people will go there tomorrow."

The government has declared a general holiday across the country on Thursday (October 10) on the occasion of Sharadiya Durgotsava, the biggest festival of Hindus. All scheduled banks will be closed on this day.

Bangladesh Bank's Department of Offsite Supervision issued instructions on Tuesday (October 8).

However, banks will be kept open in seaport, landport and airport areas under special arrangements, the central bank said.

It is said that the government has declared a national holiday on Thursday. In this context, all scheduled banks operating in the country will be closed on that day. However, branches and sub-branches of banks located in sea, land and airport areas will remain open under special arrangements. 

The body of a student named Farhan Ahsan Chowdhury was recovered from a house in the North Goran area of Khilgaon in the capital. He is a first year student of Jagannath University (JOB) Department of Drama.

The family claims that Farhan committed suicide. They lived on the sixth floor of a seven-storied house in Khilgaon police station No. 6 North Goran.

He was brought unconscious to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College (DMCH) Hospital around 9pm on Tuesday (October 8). There the doctor declared Farhan dead.

The deceased's uncle Fahim Faisal said, my nephew Farhan is a first-year student of the Drama department. He came home around 4:30 in the afternoon and closed the door of the room. The door did not open despite many calls. After entering inside, I saw that he was hanging from the fan with his belt around his neck. When Farhan was taken to Dhaka Medical in an unconscious state, the doctor declared him dead.

He also said, I cannot say at the moment why my nephew committed suicide by hanging himself. We do not know what could be the reason behind this.

Inspector in charge of the police camp of DMC hospital Md. Farooq said, the JnU student was brought to Dhaka Medical from Khilgaon area. After being brought to the hospital, the doctor said that he is no longer alive. The victim's family claims that he committed suicide by hanging himself. We have reported the matter to Khilgaon police station.

Six officers of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Bangladesh Police have been transferred.

The transfer was made on Tuesday (October 8) in a notification signed by Abu Sayed, deputy secretary of the police-1 branch of the Ministry of Home's public security division.

The transferred officers are, police headquarters Md. Ali Hossain Fakir in the Armed Police Battalion, Police Headquarters Zillur Rahman in Rajshahi Sarda Police Academy, Police Headquarters Dr. Md. Nazmul Karim Khan has been transferred to Dhaka Police Staff College.

Besides, SB Mir Ashraf Ali in Rajshahi Sarda Police Academy, Railway Police Md. Abdul Malek was appointed Commandant of Dhaka TDS and Rajshahi Sarda Police Academy. Ghulam Rauf Khan has been transferred to Railway Police.