Around 50,000 people in eight villages of Bakshiganj have been using a 100ft long bamboo bridge for over two decades, virtually risking their lives.
People, including school and college students, use the bridge on a regular basis where they have frequently faced accidents.
A concrete-made bridge built by LGED on a canal on Paglapara road in Nilakkhiya union in 1986 was destroyed in flood. Ever since then the from 1988 the bamboo bridge has been in continuous use.
Destruction of the bridge left people living in eight villages under Merurchar and Goalerchar unions isolated from the sadar upazila, prompting them to build the bridge themselves.
As the bridge is rickety, it often leads to accidents. A few years ago, Chamijal, son of Haidar Ali, Sorhab Ali, son of Amal Haque, and Ibrahim, son of Anar Ali, fell off the bridge and died. Many also were left injured on different occasions.
Local farmers are also suffering from the lack of a steady bridge are unable to take their products in the market.
The local chairman, lawmaker and minister all said a new bridge would be built but that is yet to happen.
Anarkali, a resident of Paglapara village, said his elder brother Sorhab Ali had died after falling off the bamboo bridge.
“He was a van driver. He is survived by his wife and two children. The children could not continue their studies because the family has insufficient income,” he said.
“It is very risky to walk on the bridge and cross it when I go to school,” said Nurnahar, a tenth grader at Jankipur High School.
During the monsoon season, many students even stop going to school, fearing that they could fall off the bridge.
Upazila parishad member of Paglapara village Rukon Uddin said many people were reluctant to cross the bridge on foot as they fear they could face accident.
Chairman of Nilakkhiya upazila Habibur Rahman said he had informed top officials of the misery that people have to live in but no action has been taken.
“Ministers and lawmakers keep assuring us that a new bridge would be constructed but we are yet to see their words in action,” he said.
Bakshiganj upazila engineer AKM Hedayet Ullah said a proposal for building a bridge on the canal had been sent to the high officials.
“It can be built if we get an allocation of finance but I cannot say exactly when we will be allocated the money,” he added.
