Barishal Bridge Collapses Mid-Casting Prompting Quality Investigation

An official investigation has been launched after a BDT 3.5 million bridge under construction in Gournadi Upazila collapsed during concrete casting, sparking widespread concern over public infrastructure standards and oversight.

The incident occurred in the remote village of Ahammadkathi, situated within Khanjapur Union, directly in front of the local Mridha residence. The project, financed by the Department of Disaster Management, suffered a structural failure on Wednesday afternoon when torrential rain coincided with the pouring of the bridge deck, causing the supporting shuttering to give way into the canal.

By Thursday afternoon, approximately half of the structure remained submerged in the canal waters, whilst freshly poured concrete on the surviving framework was heavily damaged by rain.

Substandard Materials and Structural Negligence

Local residents and site workers reported that the temporary shuttering had been constructed using old, deteriorated bamboo and weak decking, which proved entirely incapable of bearing the load of wet concrete.

“The collapse happened almost immediately after we completed pouring the concrete and the rain started,” explained Abu Taleb, a worker at the site. “The scaffolding beneath was made of old, low-quality bamboo that couldn’t support the weight. Two of us narrowly escaped being trapped underneath.”

Records from the Gournadi Upazila Project Implementation Office indicate that the construction contract was officially awarded to a firm named Dynamic IT Shop. However, actual execution was sub-contracted to a local contractor, Abul Fayez Sharif.

Contractor Abul Fayez Sharif acknowledged the structural failure, stating:

“The underlying framework was not sufficiently rigid, causing the shuttering to fail as casting commenced. We will construct new shuttering and repeat the concrete casting.”

Official Response and Administrative Oversight

The failure has highlighted serious administrative lapses in project monitoring. Khokon Chandra Das, the Gournadi Upazila Project Implementation Officer, revealed that the contractor had initiated the casting process without prior notification or mandatory official supervision.

“The contractor carried out the casting work without informing our office,” stated Mr Das. “Upon learning of the collapse, we reported the matter to higher authorities. Appropriate action will be taken following a formal inquiry.”

Gournadi Upazila Executive Officer, Md. Ibrahim, confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is underway, warning that strict administrative penalties will be enforced if malpractice or negligence is established. He added that the contractor will be required to rebuild the damaged section at their own expense.

Contextual Vulnerabilities in Regional Infrastructure

This incident reflects broader challenges in rural public works across the region, where sub-contracting and the reliance on temporary bamboo shuttering in soft-soil canal basins often compromise structural safety during seasonal rains. Local residents have demanded transparent oversight and independent audits to ensure safety standards and proper utilisation of public funds.