<i>Eliot Bridge attracts tourists in Sirajganj </i>

Spectacular Eliot Bridge built over a century ago is one of the tourist spots in Sirajganj town.Photo: STAR

Eliot Bridge, a glorious heritage of the district town, still attracts thousands of tourists from home and abroad.
Built over the Baral in the middle of the town during the British rule, the bridge has no pillar. Popularly known as 'Boropul,' the bridge connects the eastern part of the town with its western part. The bridge stands as a witness to many important events of the this sub-continent.
The western bank of the Baral was under the jurisdiction of the then Jaminder Siraj Ali Chowdhury. He realised the importance of the place and established a river port in 1808. Later, the area was named as Sirajganj after the Jaminder.
In 1869, Sirajganj municipality was established and later a police station was set up. In 1866, it was upgraded to a sub-divisional town and later a district town in 1984.
In the 18th century, boats and steamers were found to move through the Baral. In absence of railway, goods laden water vessels plied to Assam and other parts of West Bengal through Sirajganj. Trade and business flourished on both banks of the river.
In 1892, Bitsonbell, a Briton became the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Sirajganj. Later, he became the governor of Bengal and Assam.
One day he was returning home from the western bank. All on a sudden, he heard a groaning sound of a poor man. The man bought food from his day-long earnings. As he had no single paisa, the boatman was not allowing him to get on board his boat. Observing his plight, Bitsonbell helped the man cross the river. After this event, Bell decided to build a bridge a bridge across the Baral. He formed a committee consisting of businessmen of the town. They contributed generously at its fund and the District Board granted Tk 1,500.
Sir Charles Eliot, the then government of Bengal and Assam laid the foundation of the 180 feet long and 16 feet wide bridge named after him on August 6. 1882.
Stuart Hartland, a British firm constructed the pillarless bridge at a cost of Tk 45,000.
The bridge was repaired during the immediate past BNP-led alliance regime.