Locals Urge Faster Completion of Joysiddhi Bridge in Shantiganj

The residents of West Birgaon Union are eagerly awaiting the completion of the Joysiddhi Bridge on the Shantiganj-Rajniganj road. Once a region dependent entirely on boats during the monsoon and foot travel in winter, this hamlet in Sunamganj is undergoing a significant transformation in its communication infrastructure.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is overseeing the construction of the Shantiganj-Rajniganj road—the longest rural road in the upazila. While 60% of the roadwork is finished and the Basikhauri Bridge is complete, the focus has now shifted to the 60-meter Joysiddhi Canal Bridge.

According to LGED, the RCC girder bridge was tendered for the 2023-2024 fiscal year with a budget of Taka 6,34,42,543. The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Md. Golam Faruk and M/S. Shahin Traders.

On-site inspections reveal that piling and pillar construction are finished, and workers are currently installing the RCC girders. To date, approximately 55% of the bridge work is complete.

"This bridge was our dream," said Sohel Ahmed, a local social worker. "Fifty-four years after independence, we are finally seeing a permanent solution to our isolation."

Pramod Das, a resident of Basiakhauri, highlighted the life-saving nature of the project: "Previously, patients often died on the way to the hospital because we only had boats. Now, we can reach medical care by car at any time of day."

West Birgaon Union Parishad Chairman, Md. Lutfur Rahman Jagirdar Khokon, noted that while progress is steady, the community looks forward to the project's completion under the leadership of the newly elected MP, Mohammad Koychar Ahmed.

Upazila Engineer Sajedul Alam confirmed that the LGED is strictly monitoring the work quality. "We have urged the contractor to maintain standards and expedite the process. We expect the bridge to be fully operational by June 2026," he stated.