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The collapse of the Afra wooden bridge over the Buribhaib River has left around 50,000 people from 16 villages in Narail and Jashore facing severe difficulties in their daily travel.
The bridge has remained unusable for nearly a month, with no repair or reconstruction work yet undertaken. Residents have been forced to cross the river by boat, often at considerable risk.
Located about 14 kilometres from Narail town, the bridge connects Afra village in Shekhati Union of Narail Sadar with the Basundia area of Jashore Sadar. Eight villages on each side of the river depend on the crossing.
The bamboo-and-wood bridge was built in 2012 through a local initiative led by former Shekhati Union Parishad chairman Selim Reza. Residents subsequently repaired it several times using their own resources.
The bridge served thousands of students, farmers, workers and other residents who travelled between the two sides of the river. Following its collapse, locals arranged boats as an alternative means of transport.
For schoolchildren, the situation has become particularly difficult. Third-grader Shah Mohammad Shadat, who lives in Shekhati village but attends school in neighbouring Basundia, said he now has to cross the river by boat every day.
“Before, I used the wooden bridge. Now I have to take a boat and cross the river at risk to get to school,” he said.
Workers have also been affected. Sekela Begum and Meherun Nessa, residents of Afra village, said they regularly cross the river to work at a nearby mill.
“When the bridge was there, we could work until 10pm or even midnight and return home without difficulty. Now boats are unavailable after 8pm, so we have to finish work early,” they said.
Local resident Fakhrul Islam said hundreds of people use the Afra crossing every day to travel to Jashore, Noapara, Khulna and other areas.
“The collapse of the bridge has caused immense suffering. A new bridge needs to be built as soon as possible,” he said.
Former union parishad chairman Selim Reza said the wooden bridge had been maintained by local residents since its construction in 2012.
“After it collapsed, no repair work was undertaken. It has been lying unusable for about a month, while locals have arranged boat services to cross the river,” he said.
Narail Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Executive Engineer Sardar Ikramul Kabir said a proposal had been made to construct a permanent bridge under the Narail District Development Project.
“The bridge design is currently being prepared. Once the design is completed, a tender will be invited and construction work will begin soon,” he said.