More than 1,000 people from 15 remote villages in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban have been risking their lives crossing a rocky stream due to the absence of a permanent bridge in the Padmamukh area of Tindu union.
Residents of two mouzas, belonging to the Marma, Tripura and Mro communities, have to cross a nearly 400-foot-long stretch of Padma Jhir using makeshift bamboo bridges, which they build themselves every year.
The lack of a permanent bridge has caused prolonged hardship, disrupting access to education and healthcare and making it difficult to transport agricultural produce and other essential goods.
Despite 55 years of independence, the remote hill communities remain deprived of basic infrastructure, locals said. The situation becomes particularly dangerous during the monsoon, when rising water levels and strong currents often leave the villages virtually cut off.
Local Union Parishad member Uhlamong Marma said Padma Jhiri is about 15km from Thanchi upazila headquarters.
“Many tourists also use this risky route, but no measures have been taken to ensure safe passage,” he said.
A recent visit to the area found no permanent bridge or safe crossing facility over the stream. Villagers have been relying on the same route for generations, facing an increased risk of accidents during the rainy season.
Local residents Uziram Tripura and Khubaiti Tripura said they had to build bamboo bridges every year using their own resources.
They said the lack of a permanent bridge puts children, elderly people and patients at particular risk, while hampering education, healthcare and the transportation of agricultural produce.
Tindu Union Parishad Chairman Bhagya Chandra Tripura said the union council lacked the funds to construct a durable bridge.
He called on the upazila administration and relevant authorities to take urgent steps to ease residents' suffering by constructing a permanent bridge over Padma Jhiri.
Thanchi Upazila Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Md Abu Saleh Hanif, said the crossing was extremely important for local residents.
He said residents had been asked to submit an application so that the authorities could consider the project.
“If necessary, we will visit the site and try to include the project in a future budget for implementation,” he added.
