Kumar River Bridge Gets Foundation Stone

Anwar Zahid, returning from Saltha:

For the past 100 years, no bridge has been built over the Kumar River to connect Majardia Bazar with Jangurdi Union in Saltha. Locals say political considerations were one of the main reasons behind the lack of roads and a bridge in the area. The eastern bank is associated with the home of late national leader K. M. Obaidur Rahman and is considered a BNP stronghold, while the western bank has been regarded as an Awami League stronghold.
After the current government came to power, The Daily Inqilab highlighted the sufferings of local people. The government has now decided to construct a bridge there. During a visit to the area on Friday, local residents expressed their joy over the long-awaited development.

For nearly a century, thousands of people from 10 villages in Faridpur’s Saltha upazila have been crossing the Kumar River at the Majardia ferry ghat on a wooden boat pulled by ropes. The absence of a bridge over the river has caused immense suffering for the residents of these villages. Despite the difficulties continuing for decades, no bridge was constructed at the site.

Several educational institutions are located on both banks of the river. Majardia, the largest market in the area and around 150 years old, is located on one side. Local farmers bring their produce, including jute and onions, to the market for sale. As a result, teachers, students and ordinary residents have to cross the river every day. Their only means of crossing is the rope-pulled boat. Local residents have been demanding the construction of a bridge at the Majardia Kumar River ghat from the relevant authorities for nearly five decades. However, they say no one has been able to fulfill their demand so far.

During a visit to the site, it was found that the Kumar River flows along the boundary between Saltha and Nagarkanda upazilas. Saltha lies on the western bank and Nagarkanda on the eastern bank. A wooden boat operates in the middle of the river. Ropes are attached to both ends of the boat, allowing passengers to pull themselves across. There is no boatman; people cross the river by pulling the ropes themselves.
Students Mr. Kamal, Ms. Ayesha and Ms. Salma said they often have to wait at the ghat when colleges are open because the girls cannot pull the boat across by themselves. The situation becomes even more difficult during the rainy season. They have to wait until a man arrives to pull the boat across. At times, they wait for hours and, if their class ends, they have no choice but to return home. They said the lack of a bridge makes commuting to educational institutions extremely difficult.

Elders from Majardia village on the Saltha side, including Idris Matubbar, Nannu Matubbar and Jalal Molla, said thousands of people from 10 villages have been crossing the river by rope-pulled boat for about a century. Farmers have to carry their produce on their heads to the ghat and then cross by boat before taking it to the market. They said the absence of a bridge has caused immense hardship for local residents. “This time, Rinku Apa will build the bridge for us,” they said.

Saltha Upazila Engineer Abu Zafar Mia said a bridge at the Majardia Kumar River ghat was urgently needed and would now be constructed. He said a report on the matter had already been submitted and expressed hope that construction would begin once the new budget is approved, Insha’Allah.
The development has already taken a concrete step forward. A few days ago, Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaid Islam Rinku unveiled a plaque marking the planned construction of a visually appealing bridge at the Bot-tola area of Majardia Bazar beside the river. Residents of the 10 villages firmly believe that the efforts of journalists helped bring the long-awaited bridge to the Kumar River at Majardia.