Only a bridge can change lives of 50,000 people in Sirajganj

Locals said the people of Char Joknala, Bhutiapara, Khidro Joknala, Shialbarisa, Gobindapur, Khash Sonamukhi, Saguna and Par Saguna villages are mostly the sufferers. In absence of a bridge over the river many people especially businessmen are bearing the brunt of the bad communication as it is affecting their businesses, a villager Abul Kashem said. Mawlana Al-Amin echoed his view. The worst sufferers are school and college-going students and patients as there is no easy mode of communication for them. Besides, local growers have to spend much while carrying their products to different markets. Most of the schools, colleges and market places are situated at the eastern side of the river. As a result, students and people have to use unpaved roads to catch boats at the only ‘ghat’. They have to wait hour after hour for boat to cross over to the other side of the river. The problem multiplies further at night when the boats are hardly available. Recently the people of the area have set up a bamboo bridge over the river. Farmer Abdul Majid of Char Joknala said it was not a permanent solution to the problem. “We need a concrete bridge,” he said. Nazrul Islam of Shialbarisa village alleged that the absence of a bridge has given rise to untold sufferings for the people. Before voting, candidates utter tall promises but afterwards none take any initiative to solve their problems. Villagers complained that many patients had died on their way to hospitals since it was difficult for them to cross the bridge. Jinnat Ali of Bhutiapara village said: “The areas are bulk suppliers of vegetables and milk for the people of urban areas in the district. Since the cultivators cannot go to bigger markets to sell their products, they have to sell those at throwaway prices locally.” Mohammad Ali Akond, chairman of Belkuchi upazila parishad said: “The people of the area is completely dependent on agriculture. But, the products available here cannot be reached the hands of a good number of buyers in time as there is no bridge over the Hurasagar River.” “I have submitted an application to the higher authority for constructing a bridge over the river,” he said. Belkuchi Upazila Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Engineer Md Moin Uddin said: “I have sent a letter to the higher authority for building a 100 meter-long bridge over the river.”