A dilapidated iron bridge over the Bogirdona canal in Barguna’s Taltali upazila has collapsed. This has cut off direct communication between Taluqdar Para in Barobogi union and the Baroitali area of Nishanbaria union. Thousands of residents on both sides of the canal have been left in distress, with students hit hardest. With no alternative arrangement, they are forced to risk their lives crossing the canal by dinghy boat. Locals have demanded a new bridge be built quickly.
Inquiries found that the iron bridge over the Bogirdona canal was built nearly two decades ago under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to maintain the connection between Taluqdar Para in Barobogi union and the Baroitali area of Nishanbaria union. For a long time, the bridge remained dilapidated and hazardous due to a lack of maintenance.
Its recent complete collapse has cut off normal travel for thousands of people in Maurvi, Powa Para, Taluqdar Para, Baroitali and surrounding areas. The collapse has put more than 200 students of Taluqdar Para Secondary and Primary School, along with ordinary pedestrians, in severe distress. With no alternative road, students are forced to cross by dinghy boat at risk to their lives, severely disrupting their regular schooling.
Local residents Abu Saleh and Zakir Hossain, along with students Rakibul Islam and Amena Akter, said the bridge had been hazardous for a long time. Despite repeated complaints, no repairs were made. Now that it has collapsed, their movement has been cut off entirely. With no alternative, they must cross by dinghy boat at risk to their lives. “We’re afraid to send our children to school alone — the boat could sink at any time and cause a major accident,” they said.
Md. Abu Taher, headmaster of Taluqdar Para Secondary School, said students are unable to reach school on time because of the bridge collapse. They must cross the canal by dinghy boat at risk every day. This has reduced attendance and severely disrupted their regular studies. He said building a permanent bridge here quickly is essential.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Atish Sarkar said the Local Government Engineering Department has been instructed to remove the collapsed bridge and take the necessary steps to build a new one. He said an estimate for an emergency temporary wooden bridge is underway to ease the suffering of students and the public, and visible work to ensure an alternative crossing will begin as soon as possible.