At least ten bridges were built in an unplanned way in remote Thanchi upazila of Bandarban in the last five years.

Most of them are in remote Tindu, Remakree, Bolipara, and even Thanchi Sadar upazila.

The Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management built the concrete bridges at a cost of around Tk 25 lakh to Tk 30 lakh each under Rural Road Development Programme in the last five years.

Vice-Chairman of Thanchi upazilla Cha Sa Thuai Marma said most of the bridges were built in an unplanned way and brought no benefit for the villagers. The local administration did not pay heed to their suggestions when the project implementation officer (PIO) took the decision, he added.

PIO Md Alamgir said, "The number of beneficiaries of the bridges in remote Thanchi is poor." "We selected the areas after discussions with local representatives, and if they give us wrong information we have nothing to do," he added.

Adu Mong Marma, karbari (village chief) of Pane Dong Para in Remakree union, said, "We are facing severe trouble in transporting our agricultural produce, our children cannot go to school, and even going to our temple is difficult."

"We have been demanding a bridge over a spring (locally called jiri) near our para for a long time, but the administration does not listen to us," he added.  

They also face trouble in carrying critical patients to the local health complex, said a man from Boro Madok area.

Around 30 bridges were built in Thanchi in the last five years.