Published on 12:00 AM, June 22, 2016

Villagers build bamboo bridge on self-help basis

Through self finance and voluntary service, locals built this 300-foot-long bamboo bridge over this tributary of the Teesta River at Tambulpur in Sundarganj upazila under Gaibandha district to ease their movement and transport of agricultural products. Earlier their repeated appeal to the upazila administration for building a bridge there brought no results. Photo: Star
Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

People of three char villages along the Teesta River basin have built a bamboo bridge on voluntary basis over a tributary at Tambulpur in Sundarganj upazila.

The bridge has reduced the suffering of the people as they can now carry agriculture products, communicate with the upazila headquarters, and attend office and educational institutions.

For the last two decades, the residents of Khorda, Latsala and Tarapur villages had to cross the tributary either by country boat or banana tree raft during the rainy season, facing the risk of capsizing in the strong current. It was also time consuming.

During the dry season, the people had to wade through knee or waist deep water of the tributary and the farmers could not carry their agriculture produce for marketing. They had to travel seven kilometres more to reach their destinations.

Locals said people of both sides of the tributary decided three months ago to construct a 300-foot-long bamboo bridge over the tributary. Accordingly, they collected bamboo, wood and other necessary items and started construction of bridge voluntarily.

Some people contributed money and construction items while others gave their labour for the construction of the bridge. It took one month to erect the bridge.

"Earlier, people had to wait for a long time to get a ferry boat for crossing the tributary, but now the situation has changed," said Abul Kashem, a farmer of Khorda village in Sundarganj upazila.

"Carrying agriculture products to the markets was a problem, but now it has become much easier. The carrying cost and the time spent have also reduced due to the bridge," said Abdus Salam, a trader of the village.

"During the rainy season we normally did not send our children to schools as they had to cross the tributary by boat, which was very risky. The bridge will help the students to attend classes," said Amjad Hossain, a guardian.

"We asked the upazila administration many times to build a bridge over the tributary, but nobody responded to the demand. However, the people came forward spontaneously for construction of a bamboo bridge, and they finally succeeded," said Aminul Islam Lebu, chairman of Tarapur union.

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