Mawlana Bhashani bridge shines finally as lighting finally switched on

The Mawlana Bhashani Bridge over the Teesta River, linking Kurigram's Chilmari with Haripur in Gaibandha's Sundarganj upazila, has been lit up again after weeks of darkness.

However, the bridge was inaugurated on August 20.

Following a successful trial on Monday, all lamp posts on the bridge and its connecting roads are now switched on simultaneously each evening.

Although the 1,490-metre bridge was inaugurated with much festivity on August 20 and opened to traffic, the lights remained off, leaving the bridge and surrounding areas in darkness every night.

This had frustrated both locals and travellers. With the illumination now in place, relief and celebration are evident.

Residents said the lighting has brought safety as well as beauty.

"Since the inauguration, the bridge used to remain dark at night. We were in constant fear of theft and mugging. Now with the lights on, we can travel without fear," said Nasir Mahmud, 65, of Chilmari.

"With the electric lights glowing, the bridge now looks dazzling. The surroundings are also illuminated. Our frustration is finally gone," added Soleman Mia, 55, from Haripur.

Jobayer Hossain, 20, a college student from Sundarganj, described it as a new attraction. "Standing on the bridge at night and watching the Teesta waters under electric lights is a wonderful experience. The bridge looks stunning now."

According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), about 310 metres of cable connected to the lamp posts was stolen before the inauguration, which prevented the lighting system from working. The contractor later replaced the equipment and reconnected the system.

"From now on, all lamp posts on the bridge and its connecting roads will remain lit from evening until dawn," said Tapan Kumar Chakrabarty, LGED's upazila engineer in Sundarganj.

The bridge, the third and largest over the Teesta, cost about Tk 731 crore to build. Of this, Tk 367 crore went into the main structure, while Tk 363.85 crore was spent on approach roads, river training, culverts and land acquisition.

The project was funded by the Saudi Fund for Development and the OPEC Fund for International Development, and implemented by the LGED through China State Construction Engineering Corporation.