Editorial
Current state of Jamuna Bridge
Repairing it must be the top most priority
We have been hearing about cracks on the Jamuna Bridge for quite sometime now. And we have been getting mixed reports about it. It is regrettable that governments over the last several years since the cracks were discovered have not let the public have definitive information in the matter nor acted on it.
One is not really sure as to what the extent of the damage is, or the degree of threat posed to the bridge, if at all. Neither are we aware of any action to prevent further damage. This is unacceptable given that the Jamuna Bridge is perhaps the most important infrastructure installation in Bangladesh,
It is also disquieting to learn that the bridge suffers from design and construction deficiencies which automatically raise the question as to why the authorities went ahead with the construction without having the flaws removed in the first place. There was a very high-powered authority, the Jamuna multi-purpose bridge authority, which was given the task to see to its design and construction. It should be for it to provide satisfactory answers to the queries on the bridge.
In the meanwhile the parliamentary committee on communications has held the construction firm, Hyundai of Korea, responsible for the cracks and directed the bridge authority to realise compensation from the company, and go for litigation should the firm not pay up.
Getting the contractor to honour its commitment and compensate for the cracks or solving the matter through the court is no doubt an important aspect of the issue. However, there are a few steps that we would like to highlight, which, side by side with pursuing the matter vis-a-vis Hyundai, the government should take urgently.
First, it must set up a committee to conduct an audit to assess the condition of the bridge. It must go to the bottom of the matter to determine how and why the cracks have occurred, the extent of damage and the current state of the bridge, and the risks that the cracks pose. The authorities should then initiate necessary repair work to arrest further deterioration. Secondly, and equally important, determine what are the design faults that the bridge suffers from, and how these can be rectified.
The matter must be handled most expeditiously for it is inconceivable that flaws and damage to a most vital key point installation can be left unattended in the way it has been so far.
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