418-foot wooden bridge being built over Durgapur Someshwari river

NETRAKONA, Dec 05: A new wooden bridge measuring 418 feet in length and eight feet in width is being constructed over the Someshwari river.
Twenty-five workers have been working for 35 days. The bridge will take about 12 more days to be completed. This long wooden bridge is being constructed in Birishiri ferry terminal area. Locals feel that this will bring some relief to the tourists of the country and people of Durgapur upazila.
As a temporary step, this wooden bridge with bamboo poles is being constructed over the Someshwari river to alleviate the long suffering of the people.
It is learnt that people of more than a hundred villages of Kullagara and Gaokandia Union have been suffering for years in absence of a bridge over the river at Birishiri Point in the upazila. Therefore, as an alternative measure, the wooden bridge is being constructed in the Birishiri ferry area of Someshwari river in the municipality area.
Students, patients and people of various professions in the educational institutions of the area suffer the most due to the communication problem.
Villages and markets include Ranikhong, Khujiura, Bhabanipur, Bamanpara, Dakumara, Naljora, Charkuriadhar, Khujigarh, Arapara, Kullagarh Bazar, Putimari Bazar, Kamar Khali Bazar, Rashimoni Bazar, Vijaypur Bazar in the area.
Durgapur Upazila Parishad Chairman Jannatul Ferdous Jhuma said as there was no bridge over the Someshwari river, the tenants of Birishiri Ferry Ghat were constructing the wooden bridge for the second time.
Locals said, they had to face various problems to reach the upazila and district headquarters. However, if the bridge is built in the dry season, they are now thinking that it will alleviate their suffering. Moreover, motorcycles and CNG-powered autorickshaws will also be able to use this bridge.
Funds were allocated for the construction of a concrete bridge at Birishiri Point about 25 years ago, but the authorities have yet to take any steps to build a bridge there, locals said.
Md. Rukan Master, the lessee of the ferry wharf, said that they are constructing the temporary bridge at a cost of Tk 8 lakh to alleviate the long suffering of the people in the village.
Md. Kajal Mia, a resident of Bhabanipur village, said, "The work on the wooden bridge started in last November and will be completed by mid-December. People will be able to move in the dry season. And in the rainy season we have to use motor boats to cross the river."
Rubel Ahmed, a student at Susang Durgapur Government College, said the problem becomes so serious during the monsoon that they had to cross the river by boat risking their lives.
Rahis Uddin, a businessman from Bamanpara village, said the people of the area depend on trade and commerce, but for want of a permanent bridge, they have been facing serious problems to go the to the city market.
The Executive Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department in Netrakona Md. Hamidul Islam said they were studying the feasibility of building a long concrete bridge over th rivere.

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