Nine years on, work resumes on unfinished Golam Mawla bridge over Kirtinasha river
Repeated contractor changes have increased the total project cost to nearly Tk39 crore.
Construction of the Language Movement veteran Dr Golam Mawla Bridge over the Kirtinasha River on the Naria–Jajira–Dhaka road remains unfinished nine years after work began. However, the appointment of a third contractor has revived hopes of completing the long-delayed project.
A visit to the site on Sunday found workers carrying out centring work for the viaduct on the bridge's eastern side. Labourers were involved in structural work, pipe welding, and the installation of reinforcements.
According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), a fresh tender was floated in 2025 after previous contractors failed to complete the project. A joint venture of Faridpur-based Jannat Construction Ltd and Rezaul Karim JV was awarded a one-year contract worth Tk21.33 crore.
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Construction of the 145-metre bridge began in 2017 at an estimated cost of around Tk14 crore. The first contractor, Navana Construction, left the work incomplete. A second
contractor completed only about half of the remaining work before withdrawing. The rest is now being completed under the third contractor.
Repeated contractor changes have increased the total project cost to nearly Tk39 crore.
The bridge is considered vital for connecting Naria upazila headquarters with several unions of Jajira upazila and the Padma Bridge area. Since the old bridge was demolished in 2023, commuters have had to cross the Kirtinasha River by trawler, causing hardship for students, office-goers, patients and other residents. Risks also increase during the monsoon.
Local businessman Abul Hossain said the delay had affected business activities for years and expressed hope that timely completion would improve communication and economic activity. Resident Barkatullah said people only wanted to see the work completed without further interruptions.
Arafat Rahman Jony, the site engineer for Jannat Construction Ltd, stated that the initial delay in the project was caused by an old pier located in the middle of the river. He said viaduct construction is now underway and river works will be completed during the dry season.
LGED Shariatpur executive engineer Rafeul Islam said legal action had been taken against the previous two contractors for failing to complete the project on time. He added that 20% of the second contractor's outstanding bill would be withheld as a penalty. The project is now being monitored regularly to ensure completion within the stipulated timeframe.
