Jadukata Bridge: 10 years on, 30% work remains

The much-awaited 750-metre Jadukata Bridge in Sunamganj, originally scheduled for completion within 30 months, has remained unfinished for nearly a decade, leaving millions of people in four upazilas to endure serious transport difficulties.
The bridge, officially named the Shah Arefin (RA) Adwaita Mahaprabhu Maitree Bridge, is now expected to be completed by June 2028, although around 30% of the work remains unfinished, according to officials of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).
Construction of the bridge began on 4 December 2018, with a target to complete the work within 30 months, or by September 2020. However, around 70% of the work has been completed so far, while the remaining portion continues to keep the project from becoming operational.
The bridge is being constructed over the River Jadukata between Gorkati and Binnakuli villages under Badaghat union of Tahirpur upazila.
Once completed, the bridge will establish a crucial road link between Sunamganj district headquarters and the four upazilas of Tahirpur, Bishwambharpur, Madhyanagar and Dharampasha. It will also improve road connectivity between Sunamganj, Netrokona and Dhaka, while facilitating access to major tourist attractions including Tanguar Haor, Shimul Bagan, Bariktila and Shahid Siraj Lake.
The bridge is also expected to improve communication with three land customs stations and strengthen the border road network. 
It will facilitate the transportation of locally produced goods to markets in different parts of the country and boost trade and tourism in the region.
However, the incomplete bridge continues to cause immense suffering to local people. Thousands of people are still forced to cross Jadukata by boats, often putting their lives at risk. Locals said boat accidents have claimed lives in the past.
Residents said they had repeatedly been assured over the past several years that the bridge would be completed by June. But every deadline passed without the structure being opened to traffic.
“For the past several years, we have been told that the bridge would be completed by June. Now we are being asked to wait until June 2028,” several residents said.
They urged the authorities to complete the remaining work without further delay and open the bridge to the public as soon as possible.

Construction delayed
According to LGED sources, the construction work was awarded to Toma Construction, with a completion period of 30 months. The contractor was supposed to complete the project by September 2020.
However, the contractor failed to complete the work despite the passage of several years beyond the original deadline.
The project has also faced several structural setbacks.
On 17 May 2026, five girders installed over piers 3 and 4 on the eastern side of the Jadukata River collapsed in the early hours of the morning.
Earlier, in 2022, two other girders on the same side had also fallen into the river.
LGED officials said the contract with Toma Construction had been cancelled because of the slow pace of construction and repeated delays.
A fresh tender has been invited to complete the remaining work.

Project progress
According to LGED data, the total estimated cost of the bridge project is Tk85.99 crore.
All 15 piers of the bridge have been constructed. Of the planned 75 girders, 53 have been completed, while 10 of the 15 slabs have also been completed.
Overall, around 30% of the project remains unfinished.

Locals frustrated
Journalist Kamal Hossain Rafi said people in the four upazilas had been waiting for years to see the bridge become operational.
“People have already formed human chains demanding completion of the bridge. Yet their suffering continues. People are still risking their lives to cross the river by boat, and there have been fatalities,” he said.
Badaghat Bazar businessman Md Kamal Bhuiyan said completion of the bridge would significantly reduce transportation difficulties for local traders.
“If the bridge is completed, trucks carrying goods from Dhaka will be able to reach the market directly. It will save us from the severe transportation problems we face now,” he said.
Badaghat Bazar Merchants’ Association President Nazrul Shikdar and Secretary Harun-or-Rashid said the bridge would bring major economic benefits to the area. “Once the bridge is completed, people from the surrounding areas will be able to travel easily to the district headquarters. Business and trade will also expand,” they said.

MP seeks speedy completion
Sunamganj-1 constituency MP Kamruzzaman Kamrul said he had urged the authorities concerned to complete the remaining work quickly.
“Completion of the bridge will end the long-standing sufferings of the people and enable residents of the four upazilas to enjoy the benefits of direct road connectivity,” he said.

Fresh tender invited
Sunamganj LGED Executive Engineer Mohammad Anwar Hossain said the contract with the previous contractor had been cancelled and a fresh tender had been invited for the remaining work.
“The tender process is expected to be completed this month. It will take around two years to complete the remaining work,” he said.
The latest deadline of June 2028 has once again left local residents questioning whether the bridge will finally open to traffic after years of waiting.