Keane Bridge

The Keane Bridge is a notable landmark of Sylhet city, Bangladesh. 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 use the bridge. It is therefore the longest pedestrian bridge in Bangladesh.

Location and description

This bridge is located over the Surma River in 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.

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.

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.