United News of Bangladesh

Over 50,000 people in 10 villages of Kaunia upazila in Rangpur have been enduring years of hardship after floodwaters washed away the approach roads to a bridge, forcing them to cross a fragile bamboo footbridge every day. Besides, the concrete bridge at Gopidanga Moulvibazar in Balapara union has remained largely unusable for vehicles after the Teesta River eroded its approach roads. The bridge has also developed a noticeable tilt, prompting fears of a major accident. Locals said the concrete bridge was built in 2014 by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) at a cost of Tk 37.24 lakh. However, a few years later, floodwaters from the Teesta River washed away the approach roads on both sides. With no repairs undertaken by the authorities, local residents constructed a temporary bamboo-and-wood platform to maintain communication. Since then, thousands of commuters, including school and college students, as well as battery-run auto-rickshaws, vans and horse carts, have been using the risky crossing daily. Residents alleged that frequent minor accidents occur on the bridge, while travelling at night has become even more dangerous. They said repeated appeals to local authorities and elected representatives for reconstruction of the bridge and its approach roads have yielded only assurances. Balapara Union Parishad Member Hafizar Rahman said at least 50,000 people from 10 villages depend on the crossing. UP Chairman Ansar Ali said several proposals had been submitted to the LGED seeking construction of a new bridge. Kaunia Upazila LGED Engineer Md Manirul Islam said a proposal for a new bridge has already been approved and the feasibility study completed. "The project is now at the design stage. We hope the tender will be approved soon, after which construction work will begin," he said.

For more than 50,000 people across at least 25 villages in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur, daily life has become a risky struggle due to the absence of a permanent bridge over the Jamuneshwari River. At Chilapak Kalurghat, about 18 kilometres from the upazila headquarters, the river cuts off Hariarkuthi and Soyar unions, leaving residents dependent on risky and unreliable crossings for years. This route serves as the only key link for the residents. According to locals, they have been relying on boats in the rainy season and the bamboo bridge in the dry season for transportation for years. During the dry season, villagers build a temporary bamboo bridge to cross the river. However, the structure goes under water during the monsoon, worsening the situation. As water levels rise, residents again have to rely on boats for crossing – posing serious risks, especially for women, children and the elderly. Crossing the river at night becomes nearly impossible, in emergencies. Villagers said they often have to wait for hours for a boat during the rainy season, while currents discourage boatmen from operating, intensifying their suffering. Farmers in the area are among the worst sufferers. Although rice, potatoes, maize and vegetables are produced here, farmers are deprived of fair prices as they cannot get their produce to market on time. Often, the goods spoil, causing them to incur losses, pushing agriculture-dependent families into financial strain. Students also face major setbacks. They have to cross the river daily to attend schools, colleges and madrasahs. During the monsoon, many guardians hesitate to send their children to educational institutions due to safety concerns, leading to disruptions to their education. Matinuzzaman, secretary of Kursha Union Parishad, said the lack of a permanent bridge causes immense suffering for residents. “My home is across the river. People here face serious difficulties in movement, especially during the monsoon. For patients, the crossing of the river becomes a nightmare,” he said, adding that delayed transportation often worsens medical conditions. Service holders and small traders are facing similar challenges, as they often fail to reach workplaces on time. Businesspeople are incurring financial losses as they are unable to transport goods on time. Around 25 villages, including Chilapak, Patanipara, Dolapara, Baniapara, Ujiyal, Mamunpara, Menanagar, Kalurghat, Dangapara, Pramanikpara and Mondolpara, are directly dependent on this crossing point. Locals alleged that although several public representatives and political leaders have promised to construct a bridge over the years, no visible progress has been made. Hariarkuthi Union Parishad Chairman Kumaresh Roy and Soyar Union Parishad Chairman Al Ibadat Hossain Pilot said the issue has been raised multiple times in the upazila coordination meetings and proposals have been sent to the authorieis concerned, but without any fruitful outcome. Residents have strongly demanded immediate construction of a permanent bridge at Kalurghat, saying it will not only ease communication but also boost education, healthcare, agriculture and overall economic development in the region. Executive Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department of Rangpur, Abu Musa, said a proposal for the bridge has already been sent to the ministry. “We hope a solution will come soon,” he added.