They built bridge on their own
Locals of Gaddimari village have taken it upon themselves to build a bridge made of bamboo after the government failed to do so, despite repeated appeals.
The concrete bridge over a canal at the Teesta basin had collapsed around four years ago in the village of Lalmonirhat’s Hatibandha upazila, which locals were now replacing with a bamboo bridge.
They donated the bamboo and raised funds for the construction of the bridge, which is being built to ensure better communication to the upazila headquarters.
Nurnabi Islam, an ex-member of the Gaddimari Union Parishad, said the locals had been working together to build the around 400 metres bridge over the canal since Thursday and only a few more days would be needed for its completion.
“We went door-to-door to the villagers to collect materials to build the bridge, and they willingly donated bamboos and funds for this purpose,” he said, adding many people came forward to help with the initiative.
Locals said the concrete bridge that was there over the canal had collapsed after the Teesta river flooded in 2015, and the road adjacent to it collapsed in 2017.
Since then, they had been using a longer, alternative route to reach the upazila headquarters.
Gaddimari Union Parishad Chairman Atiar Rahman told the Daily Star that local lawmaker Motahar Hossain assured that a concrete bridge would be built over the canal during this current fiscal year.
“An application for building a concrete bridge has been submitted to the LGED,” he said.
Hatibandha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Samiul Amin said, “It is a good sign that the villagers are building the bridge with their own efforts. The administration is willing to help them if they ask for it.”
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