OUR CORRESPONDENT
LALMONIRHAT, June 15: Several thousand residents of four villages under Chalbala union in Kaliganj upazilla of the district have demanded construction of a bridge over Barajan Kadomtola Bhateshwar River as they are facing various problems every day.
Common people, especially school, madrasa and college students, are facing many difficulties due to lack of a bridge over the river.
Local people regret that after the country's independence, many bridges, culverts and roads have been constructed in this upazila, but the longstanding demand for a bridge over the river is going unheeded.
When election comes, members, chairmen and even local lawmakers commit to building a bridge over the river, but later they forget their promises.
Children and elderly people face difficulties in crossing the bamboo-made footbridge round the year. During the rainy season, floodwater enters the villages.
"During the rainy season, we have to manage a boat to cross the river," said 70-year-old Rafiqul Islam, a resident of the area.
Kharku Mia, an elderly resident of the area, said, "We are facing this problem for the last few decades. We hope that after the country's independence we will get a bridge and our sufferings will end, but no step was taken."
Another villager, Shohorab Hossen, said that there are three education institutions and Chalbala Union Parishad complex near the river.
Villagers and students have to go to the union parishad and schools and madrashas every day, crossing the river at risk of life.
Many accidents take place on the bamboo-made footbridge. Many pedestrians have broken their legs and hands falling from the footbridge.
"We urge local lawmaker and leaders of the ruling party, but they don't look into the matter," Mr Hossen said.
Lukas, a student of local polytechnic institute, said, "During rainy season we cross the river at high risk of life. We urge the authorities concerned to build a bridge over the river immediately."
Hasan, a student of Hafiz Uddin Kawmi Nurani Madrasha, demanded construction of a bridge immediately over the river.
He has expressed deep concern that many development works are going on across the country, but they face great difficulties for lack of a small bridge.
A farmer said that traders don't want to come here to buy their crops for lack of the bridge, so the prices of their crops are lower here than other places in the country.
Kaliganj Upazila Engineer Sanjid Rana said, "I've heard about the bamboo bridge after visiting the bridge areas, we will take necessary steps in the next fiscal year."
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