Why are iron bridges in Barguna collapsing?
We are concerned to learn that at least 10 iron bridges, built over different canals in Barguna's Amtali upazila in 2008, have collapsed within the last eight months. This is disrupting the daily lives of thousands of residents, as they have to struggle to commute within the upazila and to Barguna district headquarters. Students, patients, and the elderly are being particularly affected. The question is: how could these bridges collapse within just 16 to 17 years of their construction? Who is responsible for such poor-quality work?
According to locals, the Local Government Engineering Department in Amtali upazila awarded Shahidul—the then chairman of Haldia Union Parishad—a tender to construct 21 iron bridges in Haldia and Chawra unions during the 2007-08 fiscal year, with an allocation of Tk 2 crore per bridge. Shahidul allegedly used his influence to secure the contract, and completed the construction using substandard materials. Reportedly, while the bridges were supposed to be built using iron beams and angle plates, he used lower-quality materials, leading to their rapid deterioration.
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Sadly, when it comes to anomalies in public construction projects, Amtali is not an isolated case. A recent report revealed that the construction of a bridge over a canal in Patuakhali's Galachipa upazila has remained stalled for two years. Moreover, lack of maintenance and neglect by the authorities have led to severe deterioration of at least 242 iron bridges in the same district, posing an imminent risk of collapse. Thus, over the past decades, corruption and irregularities in construction projects have become prevalent. While large-scale corruption in megaprojects under the Awami League government has been widely reported, smaller projects like bridges, culverts, and roads—crucial for local communities—often escaped scrutiny. Substantial public funds were squandered on those poorly executed projects.
We urge the government to act urgently to rebuild the collapsed bridges and repair those at risk. Investigating these incidents and holding those responsible to account is imperative. More importantly, future construction projects must be closely monitored to prevent similar irregularities. Public funds must not be wasted due to the corruption of government officials and local political leaders. Infrastructure projects at the local level should prioritise durability and long-term benefits for the people.
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