Bamboo Bridge constructed to help students of Kurigram

Students crossing the Baliarkuthi Bamboo Bridge constructed over a branch of the Dudhkumar River at Baliarkuthi village of Berubari union under Nageswari upazila in Kurigram. Photo: Star

Over 250 students from four villages of Berubari union under Nageswari upazila in Kurigram use the Baliarkuthi Bamboo Bridge to get to their institutions.
The 100-foot long Bamboo Bridge was constructed over a branch of the Dudhkumar River at Baliarkuthi village of Berubari union voluntarily by local people three months ago.
At least four hundred people from five villages, Char Rahmanerkuthi, Char Balorumpur, Char Tupamari and Char Narayanpur use the bridge for going to Berubari union parishad, Nageswari upazila and the Kurigram district headquarters.
As there is no education institution in the four villages, village students go to Berubari Government Primary School, Shalmara Government Primary School, Berubari High School, Berubari Girls' High School, Shalmara High School, West Pairadanga Alim Madrasha and Nageswari Degree College.
Before constructing the bridge, the people crossed the collapsed part of the river branch by walking through it in the dry season and by banana-rafts in the rainy season. The people's clothes (especially women) would get soaked while crossing the collapsed part when the water was too shallow for banana-rafts to travel.
Vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, rickshaws, pushcart vans and horse-carts can easily cross the bridge.
At first Dudhkumar Shishu Sangathan of Shalmara village took up the initiative to construct the bridge with the help of four villagers while Berubari union parishad constructed link roads. The villagers (including students) collected bamboo donated by villagers. A local NGO Solidarity helped the shishu sangathan and the people to construct the bridge.
Shoneka Khatun, a class eight student of the Berubari Girls' High School and a member of the shishu sangathan, said, “Often times we (students) could not go to during the rainy season. But after three short months, we are now able to go to our schools regularly using the bamboo-bridge. Now, thanks to the ease of commuting we are happy to study.”
Moshlem Uddin, 55, of Baliarkuthi village of Berubari union said, “We faced various problems crossing the collapsed part of the river branch. Then serious patients would take on neck or banana-raft during across the collapsed part during the rainy season.”  
Berubari union parishad chairman Mominur Rahman said, “After the students' request, the link roads along with the Baliarkuthi Bamboo Bridge was constructed by labourers through a 40-day programme funded by the government while locals and students voluntarily helped with construction efforts.