Over 50,000 people of Charsolakia, Ekrampur, Boila, Tarapasa, Satal, Puranthana and Gachbazaar areas of Kishoreganj Sadar upazila have been suffering for long time for want of a bridge.
Thousands of devotees, who come to perform Eid-ul-Fitr’s prayers at Solakia Eidgah, the largest congregation ground in the sub-continent, face much sufferings every year.
Kishoreganj municipality with the voluntary services of local people has constructed a 50-metre long bamboo bridge over the Narsunda River adjacent to the historical Solakia Eidgah around 30 years back.
Since then, the district administration renovates the bamboo bridge every year before the Eid-ul-Fitr’s congregation where around 125,000 devotees from home and abroad take part every year.
As there is no alternative, the devotees are compelled to use the bridge and sometimes, many of them especially elderly people faces accidents while crossing the river as the bridge lies in a sorry state.
People from around 15 villages of Kishoreganj Sadar and Karimganj upazilas of the district use the bridge, locally called ‘Solakia Eidgah Bridge’.
As the bridge is not fit for vehicles, people have to walk extra two kilometers to reach the district headquarters, locals said.
Thousands of people, including students, go to their institutions using the bridge amid risk. Business, education and public health services have seriously been affected in the areas as the people living on both sides of the Narsunda River cannot travel easily.
As the successive local government authorities could not build a bridge over the river despite making pledges several times, people have become disappointed.
While visiting the bridge, this correspondent talked to Ziaur Rahman, a schoolteacher of the area. He said the bridge had turned into a death trap for people as the bamboo structure bridge swings while they move on it.
“Locals, including students, cross the river using the bridge with much fear,” he added.
Jamal Abu Naser Hilali Minthu, a ward councilor of Kishoreganj municipality, said the bridge is vital for the transportation of people of Solakia and its adjoining villages.
He also opined that the Local Government Engineering Department should take a prompt initiative to build a concrete bridge over the river.
Engineer of the LGED GP Chowdhury said the bridge was not built yet because of place selection’s problem.
He also expressed hope that the bridge would be built as soon as possible.