Woe of Shailakupa

People of ten villages have been suffering for years for want of a concrete bridge over the Kumar river at Royera ghat in Shailakupa upazila.

The villages include Royera, Aruakandi, Taminagar, Umedpur, Damukdia, Lakkhipur, Bisnudia and Madhabpur.

Finding no other alternative, over 50,000 have to cross a bamboo bridge on the river built by locals amid risk of accident, said primary schoolteacher Manirul Islam.

During monsoon, the people have to suffer more to cross the bridge, the villagers said, adding that minor accidents often take place here.

Especially elderly people and female students are the worst sufferers, said Reshma Khatun, a student of Class VII of Umedpur Secondary School.

Farmer Faruk Hossain of Taminnagar village said, “We feel difficulty to transport our products to Royera Bazar due to absence of a concrete bridge. Consequently, we incur loss by selling our products at local markets.” 

 Vegetable trader Foysal Hossain of Lakhipur village said they cannot earn good profit due to extra carrying cost for want of a bridge.

They have to go additional ten kilometres to reach Shailakupa upazila market, he said.    

Jahidul Kabir Feroz, former chairman of Umedpur Union Parishad, said motorbikes and light vehicles cannot cross the river. They have to travel additional ten kilometres on alternative roads to reach the destination.

Jhenidah Local Government Engineering Department Executive Engineer said they are considering construction of a bridge there but everything depends on getting fund.