Thousands suffer for want of a bridge

CHANDPUR, June 14: Thousands of people of at least 15 villages under Sadar and Faridganj upazilas have been suffering for years for want of a bridge over the Dakatia river in the district's Icholi Launch Terminal.

Finding no other alternatives, they have to cross the river by country boats amid risks of drowning. Particularly, schoolchildren and patients are the worst victims of communication problem, said locals.

The people, who have been suffering directly, live in Icholi East, Icholi South, Moidhya Icholi, Dhalirghat, Bagra, Bagadi, Shapdi, Balia, Rampur, Kamranga, Chhoto Sundar villages of Sadar upazila and a number of southern and eastern unions of Faridganj upazila.

Many people from Lakshmipur's Raipur and Ramganj upazilas, who usually travel to Dhaka and come back via Chandpur Launch Terminal, also use this short-cut and time-saving route.

Harun Khan, 45, from Icholi East village, said, "We have been suffering for years for want of a concrete bridge. But our sufferings multiply during stormy and rainy days and nights."

Shafikur Rahman, 65, another villager from Ramganj upazila, said, "A few years ago, a primary school student drowned in the river when his country boat capsized by sudden gusty wind."

Another villager from West Icholi, Masud Majhee, 56, said that they have to go to Chandpur town and Sadar Hospital by using alternative roads, which take around extra two hours.

Contacted, Roads and Highways Department's (Chandpur) Executive Engineer Md Shamsuddoha said a plan has been taken up recently by the Roads and Highways Division to build a bridge over the Dakatia river.

He further said, "Chief Engineer Md Monir Pathan has already given an approval for this bridge."

"At present, a team of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) engineers is conducting a survey," he added.

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