Follow-up: Manirampur UNO Fails to Keep Promise, Unprotected Bridge Turns into a Death Trap!

Abu Raihan, Manirampur (Jashore) Correspondent: Despite earlier assurances to carry out repairs to resolve the problem highlighted in news reports published in several national newspapers under the headline “Transportation Becomes Risky Due to Tug-of-War Between Two Authorities,” the Manirampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Md. Samrat Hossain, has failed to keep his promise made last week. To date, neither the Upazila Engineer nor the Manirampur Municipal Engineer has visited the bridge on site. Even the authorities of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, who are responsible for overall supervision, have not inspected the situation. Meanwhile, hundreds of people—including children and school and...

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Abu Raihan, Manirampur (Jashore) Correspondent:
Despite earlier assurances to carry out repairs to resolve the problem highlighted in news reports published in several national newspapers under the headline “Transportation Becomes Risky Due to Tug-of-War Between Two Authorities,” the Manirampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Md. Samrat Hossain, has failed to keep his promise made last week.
To date, neither the Upazila Engineer nor the Manirampur Municipal Engineer has visited the bridge on site. Even the authorities of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, who are responsible for overall supervision, have not inspected the situation. Meanwhile, hundreds of people—including children and school and college students—are crossing this completely unprotected bridge every day under extremely risky conditions. Along with pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, vans, and three-wheeled vehicles such as easy-bikes are also moving across the bridge in an unsafe manner.
The bridge, constructed nearly two decades ago, poses the greatest risk to children aged between 2 and 5 years from several destitute families living nearby, as well as to students of various educational institutions. Victims have alleged that even adults could fall directly into the Harihar River from the bridge due to the slightest negligence.
It is unfortunate but true that when inquiries are made about repairing the risky bridge, officials from the Manirampur Municipality and the Upazila Engineering Department continue to blame each other, leaving the general public frustrated. Although residents were temporarily reassured by the hopeful words of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, his failure to follow through has led victims and locals to label the situation as a clear example of extreme irresponsibility.
It is worth mentioning that the bridge, which is approximately 22 years old, began to suffer significant damage in 2022 when it was used as a bypass road during the construction of the Rajganj Mor Bridge in Manirampur. Due to the excessive load, railings and several parts of the structure broke. Since then, the bridge has gradually deteriorated, with surrounding railings collapsing, making it completely hazardous for movement.
The bridge in question is located at the Mohanpur–Taherpur ward of Manirampur Municipality in Jashore, adjacent to the Taherpur cremation ground. Members of the Sanatan (Hindu) community frequently use this unprotected bridge to transport deceased bodies for cremation. Additionally, residents of the western wards of the municipality rely on this bridge to reach Manirampur market quickly to carry out their daily necessities.
Given the regular movement of young students, children, elderly people, and three-wheeled vehicles, a serious accident could occur at any time, potentially leading to loss of life.