Low bridge height in Chalan Beel threatens to disrupt waterways

Jahangir Alam, from Chatmohar, Pabna

Chalan Beel is the largest wetland area in the country. In the rainy season, this wide wetland becomes a huge network of rivers, canals and waterways. The waterways play an important role in many fields, from carrying farm goods and catching fish to people’s travel and tourism. But a new fear has arisen over the height of a bridge being built on the Kata river in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna.

Locals strongly charge that the bridge is too low, and large boats and cargo vessels may stop moving in the rainy season. Anger and unrest have already grown among locals over this bridge. They demand that the bridge be built, but at a height that keeps boats moving normally all year. They believe no development can last if it blocks a waterway.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court lawyer Mr. Md. Abdul Latif has sent a legal notice to eight officials. He demands that the bridge work be stopped, the design be reviewed and the height be raised. He sent the notice some weeks ago to the Local Government Secretary, the Water Resources Secretary and the LGED Chief Engineer. He also sent it to the Chairman of the Inland Water Transport Authority, the Pabna Deputy Commissioner and the Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, along with others concerned.

The bridge is being built on the Kata river near Muniadighi Agriculture College. It lies on the road from Chhaikola Union Parishad to the Hundiyal Union Parishad office. The work falls under the Rural Infrastructure Development Project 2 of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) for greater Pabna and Bogura districts. The PSB girder bridge is 88.10 metres long, and it costs more than Tk 6 crore 30 lakh. ICL Private Limited is carrying out the work.

Locals charge that the bridge does not leave enough height for boats under it. When the water rises in the rainy season, boats with roofs, boats loaded with straw, bulkheads, cargo trawlers and large tourist vessels will not be able to pass. Chalan Beel is not just a wetland. It is an important body of water tied to the lives and livelihoods of people in the northern region.

In the rainy season, large parts of the beel go under water. Then boats become the main way for people in many villages to travel. Farmers take rice, straw and other farm goods to markets by waterway. In the same way, sand, stone, cattle feed and other goods also move by boat.

Tourists from home and abroad also come in larger numbers to different parts of Chalan Beel in the rainy season. They come in large boats and trawlers to see the beauty of the beel. So the waterway is not just a means of local travel. It is also an important part of the tourism economy.

Locals fear that a low bridge on the Kata river will block an important waterway. The effect will not stop at boat travel. It may also hurt the transport of farm goods, trade and tourism.

Local resident Mr. Elias Uddin said farmers in this area carry rice from the field and straw for cattle feed to markets by boat. He said boats loaded with straw are quite tall. If the bridge is low, these boats will no longer be able to pass. Then goods must go by road, and farmers will have to pay more.

Boatman Mr. Nabir Uddin said that in the rainy season, boats carry passengers and goods through the Kata river. They go to Singra in Natore, Tarash in Sirajganj and other parts of Chalan Beel. He said travel by waterway takes less time and costs less. But if the bridge is low, large boats will not be able to pass once the water rises.

Mr. Abdul Malek, a resident of Hundiyal, said they are not against building the bridge. He said the area has needed a bridge for a long time. The bridge matters to bring goods from the crop land across the river and to ease travel for people in nearby villages.

He said people can travel by boat in the rainy season. But when the water goes down, patients, students and common people suffer on muddy roads. So the bridge is needed for road links. But he said if the waterway is shut to build it, that will create a new crisis.

Another local resident, Mr. Zahurul Islam, said the bridges on rivers like Gumani, Atrai and Baral in Chalan Beel were built high with boat travel in mind. He said the bridge on the Kata river should also be built the same way, so boats can pass.

Lawyer Mr. Md. Abdul Latif, who sent the notice, said he did so out of civic duty as a son of the area. He said the bridge should be built so that road links stay along with the natural flow of the river and water transport. He said that if the design is not fixed soon, he will file a writ petition in the High Court.

Locals expect that, in carrying out development projects, the waterways, farming, livelihoods and tourism of Chalan Beel will get weight along with road links. They demand that the bridge be built but that the waterways of Chalan Beel stay open. Mr. Hridoy Hossain, site engineer of the contractor, said the bridge work is going on as per the approved design. He said the bridge will be under watch for two years after construction. If boat travel faces problems in future, he said, there is a chance to raise the height of the bridge using modern technology.

Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mr. Musa Nasser Chowdhury told Inqilab that a senior LGED team has already visited the area. He said he has also spoken to the officials concerned. If needed, he said, they will visit the site again to review the matter more seriously. He said they will try to find an acceptable solution after talks with everyone concerned.

Pabna LGED Executive Engineer Mr. Md. Monirul Islam told Inqilab that this part of the Kata river is not a recognised water channel of the Inland Water Transport Authority. He said the bridge is being built as per LGED’s set measures and rules. But he said they have kept the demand of locals in mind. If senior authorities see the need, he said, steps will be taken later.