Keane Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Keane Bridge
Length:350.521NaN1
Width:5.41NaN1
Open:1936

The Keane Bridge is a notable landmark of Sylhet city, Bangladesh.[1] This bridge is called the gateway to Sylhet city.

After Earl Robert Miller, the ambassador of USA to Bangladesh visited the bridge and recommended its sole use as a pedestrian bridge, no vehicles are allowed to drive through the bridge. It is therefore the longest footover bridge in Bangladesh.[2]

Location and description

This bridge is located over the Surma River at the middle of Sylhet city which is northeast of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

History

This bridge was built in 1936 and is named after Sir Michael Keane who was the Irish Governor of Assam from 1932 to 1937.[3]

Structure

It is made of iron and steel and looks like a bow. The bridge is 1150 feet long and 18 feet breadth. About Taka 5.6 million was spent to build the bridge.[4]

Damage and repair

During the Bangladesh Liberation War the bridge was blown off with dynamite by the Pakistan Army and damaged. It was repaired in 1977.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Keane Bridge on Surma River: heritage of Sylhet. 2016-12-20. Daily Asian Age. 2019-08-18. Dhaka.
  2. Web site: কিন ব্রিজে এখন শুধু জনতার পথচলা. Kaler Kantho. 3 September 2019. bn.
  3. Web site: Keane Bridge Sylhet . Yogsutra.com . 8 December 2012.
  4. Web site: Welcome to Kean Bridge - Sylhet, Bangladesh . Tourtobangladesh.com . 8 December 2012.
  5. Web site: Sylhet's Keane Bridge . The Sylhet Times . 11 October 2008 . 8 December 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121005063115/http://sylhettimesdigital.co.uk/sylhet%E2%80%99s-keane-bridge/ . 5 October 2012 . dead .