For years, people on both banks of the Old Brahmaputra River have been waiting for a bridge that could transform their daily lives. But despite feasibility studies, soil tests and surveys being completed, the long-promised bridge between Narsingdi’s Daulatpur and Gazipur’s Mirzanagar remains a distant dream.
The proposed bridge site lies between Daulatpur village under Daulatpur Union of Monohardi Upazila in Narsingdi and Mirzanagar village under Sonmania Union of Kapasia Upazila in Gazipur.
Residents of the two districts say their suffering has continued for nearly seven years as no visible progress has been made towards building the much-needed crossing.
Locals said the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) completed an initial feasibility assessment and soil testing several years ago, while a joint team from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and LGED conducted a field survey in 2022. However, construction has yet to begin.
As a result, students, farmers, workers, traders and patients are forced to cross the river every day using a fragile bamboo bridge, roughly 100 feet long, or small boats. The risks become even greater during the monsoon when strong currents and rising water make the crossing hazardous.
Residents said the absence of a bridge has disrupted agricultural trade, delayed the transport of produce to markets and caused financial losses for farmers. Patients requiring urgent medical attention also face severe difficulties travelling between the two areas.
Students and teachers of Daulatpur Union High School, Daulatpur Union Government Primary School in Narsingdi and Barnamala School and College in Kapasia, Gazipur, regularly suffer due to the poor communication system.
Many women from Daulatpur Union also work at NPM Apparels Ltd, a knitwear factory located at Aral Bazar in Kapasia. They said travelling by boat or the bamboo bridge exposes them to security risks, particularly during isolated hours.
Considering the importance of the proposed bridge, local residents submitted a petition signed by villagers to the chief engineer of LGED. The initiative was led by Mohammad Al-Fahad, a postgraduate student of Bangladesh Agricultural University and a resident of Daulatpur village. Copies of the application were also sent to relevant government offices.
Al-Fahad said a BUET and LGED delegation visited the site in 2022 and conducted a feasibility study. “People had hoped that construction would begin soon after the survey, but nothing has happened so far,” he said.
Daulatpur Union High School headmaster Md Abdur Rashid Mia, who crosses the river by boat and bamboo bridge every day to reach his workplace, said the construction of a bridge has become an urgent necessity.
“Once a bridge is built over this branch of the Old Brahmaputra, the long-standing suffering of students, teachers and local residents will come to an end,” he said.
Class six student Shafayet Hossain Shakib of Barnamala School and College said younger students often cannot use the risky bamboo bridge and have to take a longer route to reach school.
“If a bridge is built here, it will reduce both travel time and costs. Parents will also feel more secure about sending their children to school,” he said.
Boatman Milon Mia said a bridge would significantly improve communication between the two areas.
“A bridge is badly needed here. It would make travel easier and reduce the hardships faced by thousands of people,” he said.
Mirzanagar businessman Abdul Kadir said residents were frustrated despite repeated official activities.
“Soil tests were conducted, measurements were taken, but the bridge construction never started. We are still depending on the bamboo bridge and boats,” he said.
Rural physician Zahirul Islam (Julhas) of Mirzanagar New Market said a bridge would boost trade and movement between Daulatpur Rathkhola Market and Mirzanagar Market.
“For years, we have been demanding a bridge over the Old Brahmaputra. Once built, it will greatly benefit people on both sides and improve business activities,” he said.
Businessman Sharif Hossain of Daulatpur Rathkhola Market said traders, customers and ordinary residents continue to suffer because of the missing link.
“We have heard many promises, but there has been no visible progress. We want the authorities to take immediate steps to build the bridge,” he said.
Narsingdi LGED Executive Engineer Fulkam Badsha said a proposal had been submitted under the Narsingdi Project-2 following the survey.
“The project has not yet been approved. Once approved, a 350-metre bridge will be constructed at the site,” he said.
