A newly built girder bridge in Khanzapur union of Gournadi, Barishal, collapsed on Wednesday afternoon after its roof was poured that morning. The bridge was constructed under the Rural Infrastructure Development and Implementation Project at a cost of 3.9 million taka tendered in 2023–24; the work was later taken over by contractor Abul Khayer who finished construction in June 2026 but failed to complete handover on schedule. Local project implementation officer Khokon Chandra Das said he was not informed and did not attend the pouring, and that the contractor proceeded without notifying him.

Officials and the contractor give differing accounts: the project officer says he had instructed the contractor to notify him before pouring and alleged the contractor acted without permission; the contractor says the officer and an engineer inspected the bridge the previous morning, were told about the pouring, but did not attend and generally do not oversee pourings in the field. The contractor blamed heavy rain and failure of centering bamboo, claiming about 1.2 million taka in damage. The upazila executive officer said a show-cause notice was issued to the contractor and that if found guilty he could be blacklisted and ministry action taken; any PIO negligence would also be investigated.