Two decades on, construction of bridge over Balu River remains incomplete

Construction of a bridge over the Balu River in Rupganj of Narayanganj remains unfinished more than two decades after work began in 2003, leaving millions of people in the area without a direct road link to the capital.

The 75.30-metre bridge, located at Kayetpara-Nagorpara on the Dhaka-Narayanganj border, was initially allocated Tk5.8 crore. Despite two subsequent attempts to complete the project, administrative and financial complications have repeatedly stalled construction.

The Narayanganj Roads and Highways Department (RHD) said tenders were invited in 2001 for the bridge on the Majhina-Kayetpara-Trimohoni road. Eastern Traders Ltd secured the contract, with construction scheduled for completion within a year.

However, the company's owner, Zahid Hossain, said Tk50 lakh had been released in the 2004-05 fiscal year, but no further funds were allocated. Rising construction material costs and other complications also contributed to the delay.

In 2021, a fresh tender was invited for the unfinished work. A joint venture of Mohammed Eunus & Brothers (Pvt.) Ltd and Sardar Enterprise secured the contract worth around Tk13 crore. Construction was scheduled to resume in May that year, but the plan also failed to materialise.

A visit to the site found several piers, columns, caps, wing walls and parts of the abutments already constructed. However, the approach road remains in poor condition, with its brick paving damaged and exposed steel reinforcement showing signs of rust.

In the absence of the bridge, residents have to travel an additional 12 to 13 kilometres to reach Dhaka. Locals have staged protests, formed human chains, held rallies and blocked roads several times to demand completion of the project.

Narayanganj-1 MP Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu raised the issue in parliament on 16 April, urging the authorities to complete the bridge without further delay.

Earlier, on 27 March, State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Habibur Rashid visited the project site. He said the bridge would facilitate travel to the eastern regions, including Sylhet and Chattogram, via Purba Madartek and Sabujbagh.

Narayanganj RHD Executive Engineer Abdur Rahim said the department would take steps to resume construction quickly after completing the necessary formalities.

However, repeated failures to implement earlier commitments have left local residents sceptical about the latest assurance.