People of Mithapukur in need of a bridge over Shalmara river

RANGPUR, Mar 2: Sufferings of the people of six villages under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district have mounted owing to lack of a permanent bridge over the river Shalmara.
The people of Zafarpur, Birahimpur, Joyrampur, Shalmara, Chuhur and Shalaipur villages under Pairabond union of the upazila have been suffering immensely for long as their areas are disconnected from the upazila headquarters.
Business, education and public health services are seriously being hampered in the areas as the people living on both sides of the river cannot travel easily between the upazila headquarters in absence of a bridge over the river.
The successive local government authorities could not construct a bridge over the river despite making pledges for long disheartening the people of the villages. As they have no better alternative, the local people have voluntarily erected a 500-metre long bamboo bridge over the river to ease the road communication. Everyday thousands of people use the bamboo structure over the river risking their lives as the bridge undulates while they move on it.
Children and elderly people are the worst sufferers as the swinging bamboo structure has no railing for safety of the vulnerable people.
Traders and farmers are suffering much due to communication problem as they need to carry their products to upazila markets for sale.
Sirajul, a farmer of Shalaipur village told The Financial Express that they are often deprived of fair prices of their produce which they cannot carry to the upazila headquarters on account of absence of a concrete bridge over the river.
Aslam, a rice trader of Zafarpur village said at the time of election campaigns the local political leaders make repeated pledges to build a bridge over the river but they become oblivious about it once elected public representative.
The affected people of the villages called upon the government to erect a permanent bridge over the river immediately to remove their sufferings and boost business activities in the upazila.
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