Photo : BSS

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, July 25, 2025 (BSS) - Once completed, the bridge over the Shibsha River in Khulna's Paikgacha upazila will directly connect more than five lakh residents of five surrounding upazilas to Khulna city, significantly improving the region's road communication and transport system.

Authorities and locals believe the bridge will open new horizons in regional connectivity and commerce in the country's southwest zone.

According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the bridge is being built under the Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (RCIP) in Paikgacha.

The 748-meter-long and 9.8-meter-wide bridge is under construction at Chainage 2,300 meters on the Paikgacha GC-Laskar Bazar-Baintala-Bogurachak-Shurikhali-Bhandar Pol-Gilabari GC road.

National Development Engineering Ltd. (NDE) is implementing the project at a cost of Taka 120 crore.

Construction began in September 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by September 2026. So far, 63 percent of the work has been completed.

Upon completion, the bridge will connect Paikgacha and neighboring upazilas, including Koyra, Dacope, Batiaghata, Terokhada, and Ashashuni of Satkhira, as well as Khulna city, enabling faster and smoother travel. Locals believe it will significantly benefit trade and transportation in the area.

Shahidul Islam, a local resident, said, "It takes a long time to reach Khulna for medical or urgent needs. The bridge will ease our suffering and save time."

Local businessman Solaiman Gazi said, "The work is progressing rapidly. If this pace continues, the bridge will be ready soon. Once opened, communication and trade with surrounding upazilas will improve, especially benefiting our fish farming."

Another businessman from Paikgacha, Shahin Goldar, added, "We cross the river daily, but during low tide it becomes difficult as the riverbed dries up. This bridge will end that struggle and make it easier to reach Paikgacha town, where most of our business takes place."

Laskar Union Parishad Acting Chairman Jahangir Alam told BSS that the bridge over the Karulia section of the river will bring significant improvement in local transportation. However, he noted that roads are being damaged by heavy trucks transporting construction materials.

He added, "Although the bridge was initially planned to connect with Gilabari, it is now being built via Gorai Khali. As a result, Laskar Union residents may not benefit as much as expected. Still, the overall regional connectivity will improve." 

Assistant Engineer Sajal Biswas, who is supervising the project, said the construction work is progressing fast and expected to finish by 2026.

"A roundabout will be built at the bridge's end to improve access for residents of Gorai Khali, Kharial, Koyra, and Bardal-Ashashuni," he added.

Project Manager Saheb Ali confirmed that 63 percent of the work is complete and the pace is satisfactory. "We aim to finish all work by mid-next year," he said.

He also mentioned that three acres of land on both sides of the bridge are needed for the project. The required documents have already been submitted to the Khulna Deputy Commissioner's office, and an inspection took place in June.

Paikgacha Upazila Engineer Shafin Shoaib said, "Out of 240 piles, 227 have been completed. The bridge will be nearly one kilometer long and 32 feet wide. We hope to finish the work by the end of next year."

Paikgacha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Maheera Nazneen said, "Once completed, not only Paikgacha but also residents of several nearby upazilas will benefit. We expect the bridge to open within the scheduled time."