10 Villages Suffer as Kapna River Bridge Remains Unbuilt in Gowainghat

Tanzil Hossain, Goainghat (Sylhet)

Thousands of people from at least 10 villages in Doubari Union of Goainghat Upazila, Sylhet, have suffered for a long time because there is no permanent bridge over the Kapna River. The river lies between Datari and Baleshwar villages. School and college students, teachers, sick patients and ordinary travelers must take risks to cross it. Local people have now demanded a permanent bridge to end their suffering.

The Kapna River flows near the Datari, Khalarchhati and Babanchhati Jame Mosque ghat areas. These areas sit on a link road that goes west from the paved Hakur Bazar to Manikganj road. The road leads to Doubari Ghorail College and the Union Parishad office. People of Datari, Baleshwar, Shreenathpur, Babanchhati, Khalarchhati and nearby villages live on both banks. Without a permanent bridge, they face great trouble every day.

Several important places are connected to this road. These include Baleshwar Government Primary School, Baleshwar Jame Mosque, the Kandigram to Nagardengri road, the famous Misbahul Uloom Ghorail Madrasa and Doubari Ghorail College. A bridge would also make it easier to reach the Doubari Health and Family Welfare Centre, Mansur Mohsin Doubari High School and the Doubari Union Parishad office. At present, the river makes it hard for locals to reach these schools, health centers and government offices.

Local residents Mr. Haroon, Mr. Rakib, Mr. Nizam and Mr. Nazrul Islam said a bridge would help people reach Doubari Ghorail College, the Union Parishad and other key places in a short time. They said it would save time and money for students, teachers, workers and day laborers. It would also make it easier to get emergency medical care, carry farm products and do daily shopping.

In the rainy season, people depend on ferry boats to cross the river. Young students face the biggest risk. It also becomes hard to take sick patients quickly to a health center or to bring farm products to the market.

Mr. Mohammad Motahir Alam, a former student of Mansur Mohsin Doubari High School and a resident of Datari village, shared his own story. He said there was no school in their area in the 2001 to 2002 academic year. He crossed the river by ferry boat with great difficulty to reach Doubari Mansur Mohsin High School. He said that even today no bridge has been built at this ghat, though the place is very important. He added that Hakur Bazar High School now also exists, so a bridge is urgent for students and teachers.

Ms. Nasrin Nahar, a teacher at Baleshwar Government Primary School, said she and her students must cross the river at great risk. She said that if the government builds a bridge here, their long suffering will end.

Mr. Mohammad Ali, a local Jubo Dal leader, said a bridge at the Datari Mosque ghat is very much needed. After the demand from locals, the then Goainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Mr. Md. Tauhidul Islam, visited the spot in person nearly two years ago. Mr. Ali said there has been no visible progress on the bridge since then.

Mr. Ali urged the concerned authorities to act quickly. He also drew the attention of Mr. Ariful Haque Chowdhury, MP, Minister for Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and asked him to take steps for the bridge.

Locals say a permanent bridge over the Kapna River would solve their old travel problem. They believe it would also help education, health care, farm transport and business grow. To reduce public suffering and improve transport in the area, they have asked the authorities to step in urgently and build the bridge soon.