Thousands suffer for years
People of Satpua union in Sarishabari upazila in the district and Munsurnagar union under Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj have been suffering much for want of a bridge over a branch of the Jamuna river, thanks to the indifference of the authorities concerned.
Around 50,000 people of three villages in Satpua union and Munsurnagar union cannot communicate easily with other due to lack of a bridge.
This correspondent visited the places recently and saw that a concrete bridge is direly needed for smooth communication between Charsarishabari village and Dasherbari village of Sarishabari upazila.
He saw that people of the three villages in Satpua union and seven in Munsurnagar union have to cross the river to reach their respective destinations facing great difficulties.
People of Munsurnagar union go to Sarishabari upazila headquarters in connection with their everyday work as the union is geographically cut off from Kazipur upazila by the river Jamuna and only 15 km from Sarishabari upazila, said Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Abdur Razzak.
Around 15,000 people living in Charsarishabari, Rakhalgachha and Ghoramara villages in Satpua union, and 35,000 people in Brahmanjani, Shalgram, Shaldah, Chhinna, Charsalal Majnabari and Kumariabari villages in Munsurnagar union are facing troublesome communication due to lack of a bridge over the river, said residents of both the unions.
A good number of students from the three villages of Satpua union and many students of Munsurnagar union studying at RDM Pilot High School, Reaz Uddin Talukdar High School, Sarishabari Alia Madrasa, Sarishabari College and Mahmuda Salam Girls' College go to attend their respective institutions by facing the troublesome communication for years, said Satpua UP Chairman Abu Taher.
“During the rainy season, the river naturally becomes wider and there is strong current. So, we have to face severe problems and spend more time to cross the river by boat,” said students Suma of Charsarisaribari village and Kamrunahar of Shalgram village.
Sometimes they fail to attend classes in time and that hampers our education, they said, adding that there is dire need of a bridge for smooth communication.
The other commuters, including farmers and patients, are facing the same ordeal, said villagers of both the unions, adding that the situation has been prevailing as the authorities concerned have never come forward to solve the problem.
A large number of farmers carrying agro-products face troubles every time they cross the river by boat to reach Aramnagar and Shimla bazars in Sarishabari upazila town, said farmers Sohrab Fakir, Sairuddin Miah and Shahid Mondal of Ghoramara village.
Sarishabari upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Engineer Shafiullah Khandaker said a proposal for construction of a concrete bridge over the river was sent to the higher authorities concerned about two years ago.
“I do not know when the construction work will start as design of the bridge and the cost assessment are yet to be completed by the LGED headquarters,” he added.
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