Kurigram, May 15 -- More than 40,000 residents of 20 villages in Ulipur upazila have been having a tough time commuting after a key bridge on a water body (locally called a 'Beel') collapsed several years ago shortly after it was constructed.

Although locals blame the use of low-grade materials, project officials claim that the bridge caved in during the 2015 flood since it was small in size.

The 36-foot bridge was built on Sakor Par Beel connecting Buraburi Bazar and Janatarhaat by the government at a cost of Tk 27 lakh. The contractor company was Hamid Traders.

Once the bridge was down, residents of Buraburi and a nearby union faced difficulty commuting. They raised funds and built a makeshift bridge to allow pedestrians cross the st...