Bamboo bridge their only means
People of five villages in Sadar upazila have been facing untold suffering due to lack of a concrete bridge over the Ratnai river.
The villages are Shiberkuti, Purbotari, Pashchimtari, Majhertari and Ghughutari in Kulaghat union.
Despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to take any initiative in this regard, said locals, adding that there was never a bridge over the river in Maydanerghat area of Shiberkuti village.
Villagers voluntarily made bamboo bridge with their own money almost every year to maintain communication with the union parishad (UP), upazila parishad and district headquarters, said local UP member Anisur Rahman Sabuj.
They use the bamboo bridge for nine to ten months in a year and during the monsoon, they have to cross the river by boat, he said.
They informed the officials of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) about the matter but to no effect, said Sabuj.
Farmer Azahar Ali, 64, of Shiberkuti village said they have to face untold suffering while taking their agri products to the markets in the town.
They have been getting promises about building a concrete bridge over the river during the local and parliamentary elections every time after the Liberation War but nothing is seen here till now, said Shafiqul Islam, 68, of Majhertari village.
“This bamboo bridge is our sorrow and there is no sign of socio-economic progress in the area due to lack of a concrete bridge,” he said.
Boatman Abu Sahed, 48, of Shiberkuti village, said he runs his boat for carrying people and their goods of five villages for three to four months during the monsoon.
College student Shamsul Islam of Purbotari village said during monsoon, they have to cross the river by boat amid risk of accident.
Lalmonirhat LGED Executive Engineer Md Amiruzzaman said there is a plan to build a concrete bridge over the river.
They will conduct soil test soon, said the engineer.
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