Residents of Bhola, under the banner of Amra Bholabashi, renewed their movement demanding construction of a Bhola-Barishal bridge. At a press conference at Bhola Press Club on Tuesday, August 25, they called on the government to reconsider its decision to connect Bhola by road through Barishal, Rahmatpur, Hizla and Mehendiganj.

In a written statement, the organisation’s member secretary Mir Mosharraf Ami said people in Bhola were disappointed because preparations for the bridge, including feasibility assessment, had been completed over many years. He said the bridge project was expected to move to its inauguration stage after earlier promises and support for the demand.

The group opposed a plan involving 21 kilometres of highway construction, reconstruction of 36 kilometres of roads and three bridges. It said the proposed route could cause delays and involve risks. While saying it did not oppose development in Hizla and Mehendiganj, the group requested a renewed review of the decision and an assessment of the road-route proposal by experienced engineers.