30 people died in 11 years

Morelganj and Sarankhola upazilas are on the bank of Panguchi river in coastal Bagerhat of Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. As there is no bridge in the river, the people of the Sundarban coast are forced to cross in trawlers risking their lives. Besides, accidents often occur due to negligence of trawler owners. The locals have demanded the construction of the bridge immediately. In the last 11 years, there have been about half a hundred small and big accidents in the Panguchi river. About 30 people died. Finally, on March 28, a trawler with 80 passengers sank and 18 people, including women and children, died.

Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) said that a plan has been taken to build a bridge over the Panguchi river in the current financial year.

Normally a boat can take about 30 passengers across the river. But the trawlers operating in Bagerhat's Panguchi river are running dangerously with twice the capacity of people.

Locals complained that they were forced to cross in trawlers risking their lives as there was no bridge. Accidents often occur due to arbitrary overloading of trawler owners. So they demanded to build a bridge over the Panguchi river quickly to avoid public suffering.

Morelganj Upazila BNP President Shahidul Haque Babul said that people from Morelganj, Rampal, Mongla, Sharankhola and even Mathbaria Bhandaria and a part of it travel from here. That's why the bridge is so important.'

Officials of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) said that a project for the construction of a bridge over the Panguchi river has been sent to the ministry.

Bagerhat Roads and Public Roads Department Executive Engineer Md Farid Uddin said that the bridge construction project was approved in the last 4/05/2021 in ECNEC meeting and the administrative order of the project was issued on 21/06/2021. The project has been included in the ADP for FY 2021-2022.

According to the information of the local administration, in the last 11 years, about half a hundred small and big accidents have occurred in the Panguchi river. About 30 people died. Finally, on March 28, a trawler with 80 passengers sank and 18 people died including women and children.

ZH