Keane bridge, Road bridge in Sylhet, Bangladesh

Keane Bridge is a 1,150-foot iron and steel truss bridge over the Surma River in central Sylhet, its shallow bow-shaped span resting on tall red steel piers. The deck is 18 feet wide, and a circular red, green and white emblem is mounted on the outer truss at one end. It links South Surma with Bandar Bazar.

The bridge was constructed in 1936 during British colonial rule and sustained major damage during Bangladesh's liberation conflict. Repairs were carried out afterward to restore it to working condition.

The bridge is called the gateway to Sylhet city. It is named after Sir Michael Keane, the Irish Governor of Assam from 1932 to 1937, and was built to mark his visit to Sylhet. Today it is a pedestrian-only crossing, and its red steel truss carries a circular emblem with red, green and white elements on the outer frame.

The bridge links the South Surma side with Bandar Bazar in the centre of Sylhet, about half a kilometre from Sylhet railway station. Vehicles are barred, so you cross on foot along the 18-foot-wide deck. Allow time for the walk, since the span runs 1,150 feet over the Surma River.

The structure was converted from carrying vehicles to serving pedestrians only and is now one of the longest dedicated footbridges in the country. This shift in purpose reflects how the bridge's role in the community has evolved.