Incomplete bridge works leave Harirampur people in woes 

Even after five years since the construction of the Bhatchala Beel Canal, thousands of residents in Sapir village, in the Harirampur Upazila of Manikganj, continue to suffer due to the absence of connecting roads on both sides of the bridge.

It is worth noting that, under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, a 60-meter-long bridge was built at a cost of Tk 54 lakh, spanning the Bhatchala Beel Canal and connecting Sapir with Ratandia (Kalyanpur) villages within the Chala Union of Harirampur Upazila, during the fiscal year 2016-17.

However, because there are no roads on either side of the bridge, the residents of Sapir, Ratandia, Kalyanpur, Uttar Chanpur in the Chala Union, as well as Baruna in the Khararia Union of Manikganj Sadar Upazila, are unable to reap the benefits of this bridge.

Local resident Ashiqur Rahman Alal has pointed out that despite the completion of the bridge construction by the end of 2017, neither the local Upazila Project Implementation Officer's office nor the responsible contractor has undertaken the construction of roads on both sides of the bridge. 
In response to this issue, locals have resorted to improvisation, constructing a makeshift path using bamboo and soil to cross the bridge.

This bridge is essential for the daily commute of children from five different villages, as they use it to reach Kalyanpur Government Primary School, Baruna Government Primary School, and Sapair Government Primary School.

Farid Mia, a local resident, has voiced his concerns, saying, "Every day, these children have to cross the bridge under challenging circumstances, and accidents occasionally occur. We desperately need roads on both sides of the bridge."

Badal Hossain Badshah, a student at Jagannath University and a resident of the Kalyanpur area, emphasized the importance of quickly constructing and connecting roads on both sides of the bridge, as it would significantly ease the movement of thousands of people.

Harirampur Upazila Project Implementation Officer, Mohammad Manikuzzaman, provided an explanation, stating, "When I assumed my role in this Upazila, a 60-meter bridge had been constructed at a cost of Tk 54 lakh during the fiscal year 2016-17. Unfortunately, there was no separate budget allocated for the construction of guide walls or connecting roads. We had to build wing walls on both sides. The wing walls were indeed constructed, but an unfortunate collapse of the ground supporting the wing walls caused it to collapse."