Ishwardi’s Tk 7.5cr Bridge Develops Cracks; Unfinished After Six Years

Six years after construction began, a BDT 7.5 crore bridge built over a tributary of the Padma River at Gonir Ghat in Pabna’s Ishwardi Upazila remains entirely unusable for residents. Undertaken by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to ease the suffering of nearly 40,000 residents in Char Kurulia under Laxmikunda Union, the bridge lacks approach roads on either side. As a result, local farmers and villagers are forced to take a five-kilometer detour daily to transport their agricultural produce to regional markets.

The project was initially awarded in 2021 to Jessore-based contracting firm ICL Private Limited with an estimated budget of BDT 7,04,13,749. After failing to complete the structure within the original timeframe, the firm secured three deadline extensions. Consequently, the total construction cost escalated by nearly half a crore taka to BDT 7,49,49,833. Despite six years of sluggish execution and official claims that structural work is finished on paper, no functional access pathways have been constructed to make the bridge accessible.

Severe structural flaws and signs of deterioration have surfaced across various sections of the bridge even before its formal inauguration. Residents report visible cracks and widespread erosion, comparing the newly built structure to a dilapidated bridge constructed decades ago. Outraged by the situation, the community alleges that the contractor used substandard materials throughout the construction process. They are now demanding an impartial investigation into the alleged corruption and swift legal action against both the contractor and negligent public officials.

Attempts to contact representatives from ICL Private Limited for comments on the delay, cost overruns, and structural defects were unsuccessful. However, officials from the Local Government Engineering Department acknowledged the public grievance and confirmed awareness regarding the current condition of the structure. ‘We are aware of the current state of the bridge,’ stated Monirul Islam, Executive Engineer of LGED in Pabna. He assured that necessary and effective action would be taken promptly following a thorough investigation into the matter.

To address the situation, affected residents have urged the relevant authorities to immediately construct durable, high-quality approach roads on both banks of the river. They emphasized that proper connectivity is essential to restore public trust, ensure safe vehicular movement, and fulfill the original purpose of the BDT 7.5 crore project. Until these access roads are built and structural defects repaired, the massive infrastructure project will remain a symbol of public frustration rather than a catalyst for local socio-economic development.