30,000 People Suffer as a Bamboo Footbridge Remains the Only Lifeline for Nine Villages in Boalmari

About 30,000 people from nine villages in two unions of Boalmari, Faridpur, are still suffering because there is no concrete bridge over the Barashia River. A single bamboo footbridge is the only hope for these villages. Young children and school going students face endless trouble.

People must risk their lives to cross the river on a shaky bamboo bridge built by locals. Students, traders and ordinary passengers face hardship every day. Without a bridge, many must take another route and walk about three extra kilometres to reach their destination. Locals have demanded a bridge for a long time, but who will see their pain?

Residents near the bridge, including Joynob, Akher Ali and Lima Khatun, spoke to our reporter. They said the bamboo bridge stands over the Barashia River near Fultola Idgah in Jaliadanga village of Gunbaha Union. It has now become a death trap for people on both sides.

People from Ramchandrapur, Sukdebnagar, Ramdebnagar and Araji Baikhir villages of Chatul Union use the bridge. People from Jaliadanga, Dhopapara, Dariharinagar, Chapaldanga and Gunbaha Guchchhagram villages of Gunbaha Union use it too. They depend on it for daily life, trade and business, and education. Even in an emergency, no one can cross faster than others.

Residents of the Chatul Union villages on the east bank must cross the river for trade, visits to relatives and education. Residents of Gunbaha Union on the west bank must also go to the other side for many needs. With no permanent bridge, their suffering grows in the monsoon. When the water rises, crossing the bamboo bridge becomes risky. Locals fear an accident can happen at any time on the shaky bridge.

Arab Ali, whose daughter Moyna Begum studies at a school, said students’ suffering is not easing in the area. The Sukdebnagar Government Primary School stands on one side of the river. The Shirgram Multipurpose High School stands on the other. Students from both banks must use the bridge to reach their schools. Parents feel worried every day as they watch their children cross the river at risk. The worry grows when the current gets stronger and the bridge becomes shakier.

He also said no permanent bridge has been built for years, so locals make a temporary bridge with bamboo and posts themselves. They spend money to build and repair it every year, but it gives no lasting solution. Parents of the local school and residents say a concrete bridge near Jaliadanga Fultola Idgah would bring a big change to transport for nine villages of the two unions. It would also make education, trade and business, and social contact easier.

Harun Molla, a trader of Jaliadanga village, said locals must build the bamboo bridge at their own cost every year. In the monsoon the river is full of water, and people feel afraid to cross the shaky bridge. He said nine villages would benefit if a concrete bridge is built near Jaliadanga Fultola Idgah.

Shohag Khalashi from the same village said the bamboo bridge now stands on a weak frame. People must cross it at risk even in an emergency. Locals fear it may break and cause an accident at any time.

Hossain Ali, who lives beside the bridge, said the villages seem cut off for want of just one bridge. A concrete bridge of about 120 metres would take only 30 seconds to cross. Without it, people must go around Baikhir Chourasta to reach the market, which adds three kilometres. He demanded a quick bridge to reduce public suffering.

Mr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Chairman of Chatul Union Parishad, said efforts to build the bridge have been going on for a long time. He has raised the issue at various development meetings of the upazila. The upazila engineer has also kept the bridge in mind. He said locals will be freed from their long suffering once the bridge is built. The bridge is needed at the end of the Jaliadanga road, which runs from Baikhir Clubghar on the regional highway through Sukdebnagar.

Mr. Purnendu Saha, Boalmari Upazila Engineer, said a bridge shorter than 100 metres could have joined the ongoing project. But the proposed bridge is longer than 100 metres, so it cannot join that project. He said the office will try to include it as a priority if a chance comes in future.

Locals want quick action to end this long suffering. They say a bridge will ease travel for people of nine villages in two unions. It will also bring safe movement for students, growth in local trade and business, and better contact among people. So they have demanded that authorities make the needed plan and arrange funds for the bridge without waiting to join a project.