Protesters vandalise 'Souhardya Bridge' opening in Muladi after its renaming to '36 July'

A group of agitated locals disrupted the inauguration of a new bridge over the Arial Khan River in Gaurnadi–Muladi, Barishal, after objections emerged over the structure's sudden renaming from "Souhardya Bridge" to "36 July Bridge".

The incident took place at around 11am yesterday (6 December) at Kachirchar in Nazirpur Union, Muladi Upazila, when protesters stormed the inauguration marquee and forced the programme to be abandoned.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, adviser to the interim government's Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, had been scheduled to inaugurate the bridge virtually. Before he could join, demonstrators charged into the venue in front of officials, halting the event. 

Residents said the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is building the 619-metre bridge linking Saheber Char in Sarikal Union, Gaurnadi, with Nazirpur in Muladi.

Despite construction not yet being complete, an inauguration was arranged after the original name "Souhardya Bridge" was reportedly replaced with "36 July Bridge" without community consultation.

The change, they claimed, triggered the unrest that led to the vandalism of the marquee.

Locals also expressed resentment that former finance ministry secretary Emdadul Haque Majnu, who they said played a key role in securing the project, had not been invited to the ceremony, further inflaming tensions.

Muladi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam confirmed that the attack forced organisers to cancel the event, though he said the situation was now under control.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Golam Sarwar stated that the Ministry of Local Government had approved the new name and fixed the inauguration date accordingly.

However, residents submitted a formal objection, and the matter was communicated to higher authorities. Due to the unrest, the ceremony could not proceed.