For more than 50 years, the people of at least 20 villages have been waiting for a concrete bridge over the Jhapjhapiya River at Salanga in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district. The river flows through Charbera village in Salanga union.
Every day, residents of Charbera, Telkupi, Goza, Chhoto Goza, Boro Goza, Char Goza, Sattikri, Manikdia, Diyarpara, Bhoramohoni, Salanga, and Dhamaikandi cross the river to reach the Union Council office, Salanga bazar, and several educational institutions. They also need to cross the river to reach the post office, sub-registry office, and Salanga police station.
A man named Shoshti Chandra Das ferries people across the river in a small dinghy at the Charbera ghat. But due to old age, he is often absent. As a result, people coming to cross the river have to pull the rope themselves to move the boat. This particularly troubles schoolchildren.
Ishak Mia, an elderly resident of Char Goza village in Salanga Union, said, “I’ve been pulling this rope across the river for 50 years, hoping for a bridge. But I haven’t seen one. MPs and chairmen promised to build a bridge over the river, but no one kept their word. I don’t think I’ll get to see one in my lifetime,” he says with deep frustration.
Residents Taijul Islam of Char Goza, Sohel Rana, Milon Hossain, Sharif Mia of Charbera, and others said that since independence, a small dinghy is the only means of communication. Over the decades, they urged several lawmakers and upazila chairmen to build a bridge over the river. Though promises were made, none were fulfilled.
Students of Charbera Government Primary School Merajul Islam, Mim Khatun, Mahim Reza, Mahiya Akter, and others said that often the boatman is not present at the ghat. Then they have to pull the rope themselves to cross the river. Sometimes, they fall into water and their books, clothes, and bags get soaked.
Rafiqul Islam Montu, panel chairman of Salanga Union Parishad, said that they have made efforts to get a concrete bridge built over the Jhapjhapiya River, but political leaders did not understand the severity of their problem.
Md. Shahidullah, the Upazila Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Ullapara office, said that LGED has taken an initiative to build a bridge there. A project proposal has already been prepared and sent to the headquarters in Dhaka.