Locals have formed a human chain in the area adjacent to the bridge, demanding the resumption of construction work on the Jadukata River in Badaghat Union of Tahirpur Upazila of Sunamganj and the immediate completion of the bridge work.
Hundreds of people from the surrounding villages of Ghagtia, Garkati, Sundar Pahari, Jalor Tek, Manigaon Adarsh ​​Gram, and Jambag, Badaghat, Molla Para, and Kamraband villages joined the human chain held on Monday at 11 am near Garkati village on the west bank of the bridge.
The human chain was held under the chairmanship of Pavitra Kumar Roy, retired headmaster of the local Ghagtia Government Primary School.
The speakers in the human chain said, Jadukata Bridge is the bridge of our dreams. The people of this area consider it to be like the Padma Bridge. If the construction of the bridge is completed, millions of people in the area could travel at a lower cost and in a shorter time. Tourists would also benefit. This bridge was inaugurated seven years ago today. It was said that the bridge work would be completed in two and a half years, but the bridge work has not been completed even in seven years. The bridge work has been stopped for the past one year. We demand that the construction work of the bridge be resumed very soon and the bridge work be completed as soon as possible. The foundation stone of this bridge was laid on April 12, 2018, on the Jadukata River in Badaghat Union of Tahirpur Upazila. This 750-meter-long bridge is named after Shah Arefin (R.) and Advaita Mahaprabhu Maitree Bridge.
Kasmir Reza, president of the Environment and Haor Development Organization, spoke at the beginning of the human chain. He said that this bridge is part of the Sunamganj border road project. The construction of the bridge over the Jadukata River has begun with the aim of facilitating the travel of people of Tahirpur, Madhyanagar, Dharmapasha and Bishwambharpur upazilas, expanding the travel of tourists and expanding trade and commerce. This border road will be connected to the neighboring upazila Madhyanagar through Netrokona district headquarters and Dhaka. Road communication has already been established up to Mahishkhala in Madhyanagar. Direct cars are coming to Mahishkhala from Dhaka. The border road connection will be established only after the road communication is built from the banks of Jadukata to Mahishkhala. A project worth thousands of crores of taka is being implemented here; therefore, if this bridge is not completed, this project worth thousands of crores of taka will be put on hold. Therefore, if this bridge is not implemented, millions of people will not get the benefits of the project worth thousands of crores of taka.
In his speech as the president, Pabitra Kumar Roy said, thousands of people from several unions of Tahirpur upazila travel through this road. Lakhs of tourists traveling to Barik Tila, Shimul Bagan, Niladri Lake and Tanguar Haor also use the road. This bridge is very important for us. We will submit a memorandum to the chief advisor. If the bridge work is not completed soon, we will call for a bigger movement.
Writer and social activist Abul Hossain, President of Environment and Haor Development Organization Kasmir Reza, President of Government Welfare Foundation Tahirpur Sarwar Hasan, Former General Secretary of MC College Branch of Tahirpur Student Welfare Council Mohammad Nur Uddin, and Nazrul Islam, representing Sundar Pahari Village, spoke at the meeting.
Incidentally, a contract was signed with the contractor Tama Construction for the 750-meter-long bridge at a cost of 859.930,678 taka. So far, 75 percent of the work has been completed with 4 time extensions. They have taken more than 78 percent of the bill. They have already raised a bill of 649.969 thousand taka. Despite taking a bill of 1 crore taka more than the work, the construction of the bridge is still stalled. All the pillars of the bridge were completed a year ago. 12 out of 15 spans have been completed. 60 out of 75 girders have been completed. So far, 20 girders and 3 spans are still to be constructed.
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