DE News Desk :
A critical bridge and stretch of road in Sylhet’s Balaganj upazila collapsed into the Kushiyara River early Wednesday morning, severing a key transport link and leaving thousands of residents cut off amid worsening riverbank erosion.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. in the Fazilpur area, along the Khasrupur GC–Balaganj road — a vital 24-kilometre route connecting Balaganj to Sherpur in Osmaninagar upazila.
The collapse, attributed to relentless erosion, has transformed the once-bustling road into a scene of destruction.
The damage has effectively isolated several communities, including the densely populated Purbo Poilunpur union, from essential services and trade routes.
In response to safety concerns, local authorities have suspended electricity supply in the vicinity of the collapse.
For months, residents had expressed growing alarm over the condition of the road and the nearby bridge.
Visible cracks had begun forming earlier this year, raising fears of an eventual collapse.
Despite repeated appeals and formal proposals to the Water Development Board (WDB) for permanent erosion control measures such as geo-bags and concrete blocks, only temporary interventions were made — including the placement of soil bags, which proved ineffective against the river’s force.
“The road is a lifeline for thousands in Balaganj and Osmaninagar,” said a local resident.
“It’s not just a road — it’s how we access markets, health care, and the upazila centre. We warned authorities, but nothing lasting was done.”
On April 28, Sylhet’s Deputy Director of Local Government Subarna Sarkar visited the erosion site, raising hopes for action.
However, locals report that no permanent steps followed the visit, and erosion only intensified.
Following the collapse, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sarkar Mamunur Rashid, along with Upazila Engineer Muhibullah, visited the site to assess the situation.
Purbo Poilunpur Union Parishad Chairman Shihab Uddin voiced widespread frustration, noting that other areas, such as Hamchapur, are also at high risk if erosion prevention measures are not implemented immediately.
“We had repeatedly informed the authorities through the UNO’s office,” said Chairman Uddin.
“Yet this disaster was allowed to happen.”
In response, Acting UNO Mamunur Rashid confirmed that the WDB has been contacted to take urgent steps and restore road communication between Balaganj and Sherpur.
“As of now, efforts are underway to reconnect the affected areas and prevent further erosion,” he stated.
As communities grapple with the fallout, the incident raises renewed concerns about infrastructure resilience and responsiveness to early warnings in erosion-prone regions.
For now, residents await both relief — and accountability.