For want of a bridge, people have to cross the Khirai River by boat amid risks — FE Photo CHANDPUR, Mar 31: Thousands of people of 15 villages in Matlab Dakhshin Upazila of the district have been suffering much for a long time as there is no bridge over the Khirai river.
The river has bifurcated Matlab Dakhshin Upazila in Chandpur and Daudkandi Upazila of Cumilla.
The river has crisscrossed through some 15 villages in Nayergaon Uttar in Matlab Dakhshin and 10/12 villages of Daudkandi Upazila of Cumilla.
In order to mitigate their sufferings, local people built a big wooden bridge over the river a few years ago. But, one year ago, the bridge suddenly collapsed after its supporting pillars were hit and broken by running bulkheads.
Light vehicles and bi-cycles carrying goods also used the bridge.
Since then, thousands of people of about 15 riverside villages of Nayergaon Uttar (Matlab) and 10/12 riverside villages of Daudkandi Upazila have been facing inconveniences and suffering much while going to schools, bazaars and agri lands across the river.
Sholodana, Bokchar, Kasiara, Khidirpur, Dasherbanda, Pitambordi, Nandikhola, Dasherbondo, Bordoul, Lakshibpur, Ghona and Budhunda and a few other villages are located in Nayergaon Uttar union in Matlab Dakhshin.
On the other side of the river, Jafrabad, Manikdi, Somburdia, Chowdhuripara, Daulatpur, Bazarkhola, Mohismari, Tulatoli and a few other villages are located in Daudkandi of Cumilla.
For daily necessities, marriages, other social religious functions, trade and commerce, thousands of people of about 30 villages of both the upazilas have to cross the river with risks by just 2/3 small country boats all time.
The worst sufferers are the elderly and serious patients and pregnant women who suffer immensely while going to nearby hospitals in Daudkandi Upazila.
Farmers Selim, Ashek Ali and Mintu Mia of Sholodana and Bokchar villages have told the FE, ''We have been suffering much for a want of a concrete bridge over the river. We are no longer interested in repairing the collapsed and broken bridge.''
Narandia High School Headmaster Md Kabir Hossain along with his daughter Sheuli Begum has to cross the river daily by boat to go to Daudkandi.
Sheuli Begum and her classmates often cannot attend classes in time due to a want of boats and boatmen.
Contacted, Engineer Md Mehedi Hasan has said, ''I have joined here recently. We will go to the site and see and then send a report to the higher authorities about this vital matter. Then we will take steps in this regard in coordination with the Daudkandi Upazila administration.''
Local Nayergaon Uttar Union Parishad Chairman Kamruzzaman Mollah has told the FE, ''We'll talk with the UP chairman about the matter and then take proper steps in this regard immediately.''
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