, July 24 -- Over 50,000 people in 10 villages of Kaunia upazila in Rangpur have been enduring years of hardship after floodwaters washed away the approach roads to a bridge, forcing them to cross a fragile bamboo footbridge every day.

Besides, the concrete bridge at Gopidanga Moulvibazar in Balapara union has remained largely unusable for vehicles after the Teesta River eroded its approach roads. The bridge has also developed a noticeable tilt, prompting fears of a major accident.

Locals said the concrete bridge was built in 2014 by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) at a cost of Tk 37.24 lakh.

However, a few years later, floodwaters from the Teesta River washed away the approach roads on both sides.

With no repairs u...