Faridpur Still Waiting for a Permanent Bridge After 80 Years

Even after eight decades, the heart of Faridpur town remains without a permanent concrete bridge, forcing residents, traders, and commuters to rely on a fragile Bailey bridge over the Kumar River. Located at Moyrapotti, adjacent to Haji Shariatullah Bazaar, this crossing lies at one of the most vital junctions of the town, yet it continues to symbolise neglect, delay, and unfulfilled promises.

Despite Faridpur’s growing commercial importance, the temporary Bailey bridge remains the sole connection between three major trading hubs—Haji Shariatullah Bazaar, Titumir Bazaar, and the Greater New Market area. Thousands of pedestrians, hundreds of vehicles, and goods worth millions of taka pass through this narrow structure every day, underscoring its critical role in sustaining the town’s economic lifeline.

A Risky Bridge at the Core of the City

Positioned at the very centre of Faridpur, the bridge has effectively become indispensable. Almost the entire flow of goods transportation, market supply chains, and daily commuting depends on this single crossing. However, the structure is small, outdated, and increasingly unsafe. Chronic congestion is a daily occurrence, while minor and major accidents are reported with worrying frequency.

Local traders argue that although the area generates crores of taka in annual revenue, there has been no visible reinvestment in long-term infrastructure. Urban planning experts estimate that the construction of a modern, wide, and well-planned concrete bridge could directly benefit nearly five million people and reduce city traffic congestion by up to 66 per cent.

Cosmetic Repairs, Missing Millions

Social activist and former Central Vice-President of Jubo Dal, Mahbubul Hasan Pinku, expressed deep frustration over what he described as “cosmetic repairs” carried out year after year. According to him, an estimated BDT 5–6 million—sometimes even more—is reportedly spent annually on repairing the Bailey bridge. Yet these repeated expenditures have failed to provide a lasting solution.

Pinku questioned why this cumulative funding was never allocated towards constructing a permanent bridge. He added that a properly designed one-way concrete bridge, supported by planned connecting roads on both sides, could bring a revolutionary improvement to Faridpur’s transport system.

Former president of Haji Shariatullah Bazaar, Md Nur Islam, echoed similar concerns, stating that numerous governments have come and gone over the past 80 years, but none managed to resolve this long-standing issue at the city’s core. “Can a modern city function indefinitely with a temporary Bailey bridge?” he asked, insisting that the time for stopgap solutions has long passed.

Public Suffering Intensifies

Recent repair work on the Alimuzzaman Bailey Bridge has once again sparked public anger and disappointment. Since 10 December, all vehicular movement has been suspended, placing immense pressure on alternative routes. As a result, traders, students, and even ambulances transporting patients have been facing severe disruption.

Promises Without a Timeline

Faridpur Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Khalid Saifullah Sardar confirmed that repair work began due to the bridge’s deteriorating condition. He acknowledged that plans for a new permanent bridge do exist. However, he was unable to provide any clear timeline for when construction might actually begin.

For the people of Faridpur, the question remains painfully simple: how much longer must a growing city rely on a temporary bridge at its very centre?

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