Absence of bridge puts villagers in difficulty

RANGPUR, Sept 02: More than 30,000 people of seven villages at Kawnia upazila in the district are facing serious trouble due to absent of a permanent bridge over dead Teesta river in Khaliler Ghat area.

Since people cannot travel between the upazila headquarters and other places by crossing the river without any difficulty, educational, business and public health services are seriously being hampered in the areas.

Traders and farmers are suffering immensely due to communication problem as they need to carry their products to upazila markets for sale.

Nazrul Mia (55), a farmer of Char Nazirdaho village in the upazila said they are often deprived of fair prices of their produce which they cannot carry easily to the upazila headquarters due to absence of a bridge.

Aggrieved local people have expressed their disappointment saying that successive local government authorities were unable to construct a bridge over the river though they made pledges for it many times.

Whenever election comes closer candidates woo voters assuring them of constructing a bridge over the river but once it is over the elected representative becomes oblivious to their commitment, they further said.

Finding no other alternative, last year the local people voluntarily erected a bamboo bridge over the river to ease the communication problem. Everyday thousands of people use the bamboo structure risking their lives as it swings while they walk on it. School going children have to face severe difficulty as well, it is alleged.

Locals said that the bamboo bridge becomes risky during rainy season. The bamboo gets very slippery and they cannot cross it easily. Sometimes the bamboos get damaged, yet they have to cross the bridge every day. Fatal accident may take place any time, locals apprehended.

In this situation the affected people of the areas urged the government to take necessary measures to construct a permanent bridge over the river in the area in order to ease their sufferings and enhance business and other activities.

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