Thousands suffer due to lack of concrete bridge

Thousands of people, including children, of four wards under Santhia municipality have to cross a 200-foot-long bamboo bridge to come to the municipality headquarters every day amid great risk due to lack of a permanent bridge on the Ichhamati Canal at Nawani-Chakkonabari point at Ward No 7 of the municipality.

“Around 5,000 people of the four wards, including hundreds of school children, cross the bridge for going to the markets, offices and educational institutions in the municipality headquarters every day,” said Abdul Aziz Khan, a resident of Chakkonabari village. But the municipality authorities have not taken any initiative to build a concrete bridge on the canal, he added

“Most of the educational institutions of the four wards are located in the municipality headquarters, so the children have to suffer everyday while going to the schools,” said Manik Mia, a resident of the area.

Sometimes children fall into the canal when many of them cross the bridge together, yet they have to go to school amid the risk everyday, he added.

When farmers cross the bamboo bridge carrying their produce, they sometimes fall into the canal, villagers said.

“The bridge becomes risky in the monsoon. The bamboos get slippery and we cannot cross it easily. Sometimes the bamboos get damaged, yet we have to cross the bridge every day,” said Habibur Rahman of Nawani village.

Although the people of four wards of Santhia municipality have been demanding a permanent bridge at Nawani-Chokkonabari point of the canal since establishment of the municipality, the authorities have not taken any step in this regard.

Md Mirazul Islam Pramanik, mayor of Santhia municipality, said primary survey has been completed, but it is not enough. "After completing ground work, we will submit the proposal for a bridge on the canal to the ministry very soon," the mayor added.