Thousands suffer for want of concrete bridge

People of 14 villages have been suffering for decades due to lack of a concrete bridge on Kharia River in Phulpur upazila of the district.

A small bamboo bridge had been built by villagers some 80 years ago, and they have been maintaining the age-old bridge every year, said local sources.

Vegetables produced here are supplied to different districts of the country, including Dhaka, but the farmers do not get fair price of their produce due to poor communication system, said local people.

Hundreds of students have to cross the bamboo bridge every day to reach their schools and colleges, said sources.

"We appealed to the political leaders on different occasions to construct a bridge on the river but it is yet to be fulfilled," said Shamser Ali of village Poyari.

Many political leaders pledged to fulfill our demand before elections but after the election they never thought of executing their pledges, villagers alleged.

Abul Kashem, 50, a trader in Guptergoan village, said he has been involved in repairing the bridge for some 30 years.

"The bridge was constructed by the villagers before my birth, and it might be about 80-years old. Village people contribute according to their ability to repair the bridge every year, and the repair cost is about Tk 1 lakh. Shamsuddin Ahmed, Al Mamun, Amjad Ali Sarker, Sabur Master, Mohor Ali, Chand Miah, Salam Member, among others, also led the repair work every year," said Abul Kashem.

Rabiul Karim Rabi, a local journalist, said they filed reports in local dailies on the sufferings of the people on various occasions, but the authorities concerned did not take any step in this regard.

Delwar Hossain, chairman of Poyari Union Parishad, said local people reconstructed the bridge using bamboos three years ago. Rickshaws, vans and motorcycles can use it now. “We never got any financial support from the government to repair the decades-old bamboo bridge," he said.

During the rainy season, the village people and students have to suffer a lot to cross the river. We want a concrete bridge on the river, the chairman added.