Sylhet Dhalai bridge in trouble: Victims at the door of admin to save it
S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
The future of the bridge is in doubt due to sand extraction from the side of Sylhet’s longest and most beautiful Dhalai Bridge.
Therefore, to save the bridge, all the political, social, and business organisations of the upazila, including the locals, have united and raised their voices and protested, marched, and submitted memorandums for many days.
Even so, nothing has been done. Everyone is now tired of the threats and intimidation of the sand miners.
When allegations of negligence and involvement of the then Deputy Commissioner, Upazila Administration, and OC officials in the controversial White Stone Lanka incident were raised, they were withdrawn through a senior government official.
Although the newly appointed Companiganj Upazila UNO OC has become quite vocal, the rampage of sand looters cannot be stopped. This has put the future security of the bridge at an all-time high.
On-site inspection revealed that several groups in the Dhalai South Sand Mahal leasehold, river banks and areas adjacent to the bridge have formed syndicates and are selling hundreds of steel bodies day and night for 10/12 taka per foot.
Sand mining gangs are earning lakhs of taka per day by selling several thousand feet of sand.
With the help of the giant Lister dredger machine, they are digging a 50/70 foot deep trench from midnight to 10 am, using medium boats to large steel body boats to destroy the bridge area and houses on the banks and sinking them into the river.
This is especially true if the pillars of the bridge tilt at any moment, the only easy way to reach the large area is about to be closed. Kalabari playground and graveyard along with the houses are also on the verge of disappearing.
UNO of Companiganj Md. Robin Mia said that protecting the Dhalai bridge is an ongoing process.
The upazila administration is taking strict legal action against those who extract sand near the bridge.
The process of setting up a permanent police camp on behalf of the upazila administration to protect the important Dhalai bridge is underway soon.
OC of Companyganj Police Station Md. Ratan Sheikh said that he blames the weakness of the locals in protecting the bridge, expressing his anger and saying that the local 95 percent of the residents are involved in sand looting for money, they have hundreds of boats in their backyard, and steel bodies are drunk playing hooligans late at night!