Rangamati hanging bridge under water
The Rangamati hanging bridge is currently submerged under water. Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Rangamati authorities have banned the movement of tourists on the bridge due to one foot of water rising on the bridge.
The hanging bridge was constructed by Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in 1986 at the end of Rangamati town connecting two hills of Kaptai Lake. This colorful suspension bridge connects two isolated mountains.
Thousands of tourists come and go to Rangamati every day because of this hanging bridge which is famous as symbol of Rangamati. And by doing this, the locals have been making a living by running small businesses through tourists.
Local boat traders and shopkeepers running small businesses said, 'We are not renting any of our boats because the bridge has sunk. Also our shops are not selling due to lack of tourists. If the water does not recede, we will not have income and it will be very difficult to run our family. So we want the government to reduce the water in Kaptai lake by at least 4/5 feet then the bridge will float and tourists will come to see the bridge and we will also get income.
As a result of continuous rainfall, the water of the Kaptai lake is rising due to the water coming down from the hills. And due to this, water rose in the hanging bridge from Sunday morning and the deck of the bridge sank under one foot of water.
The Rangamati Tourism Corporation authorities have issued a temporary ban until the water recedes to avoid accidents. Meanwhile, Rangamati Tourism Corporation is losing at least Tk. 15,000 every day due to the sinking of Rangamati hanging bridge. According to the information of the organization, more than one thousand tourists climb the suspension bridge every day. This increases the income of the tourism corporation.
Alok Vikas Chakma, manager of Rangamati Tourism Corporation, said that due to water, we have banned the movement of tourists for the time being. When the water recedes, it will be allowed to enter again. If the bridge does not float, there will be a loss in tourism as well as fewer tourists. This matter has been informed to the higher authorities.