by Liakat Ali Badal, in Dhaka Tribune, July 23, 2023
Over 150,000 residents of nine char areas under Kaunia Upazila in Rangpur have long been waiting for a concrete bridge on the old Teesta River, which will ease their travel and improve economic conditions significantly.
Though neglected for over 52 years since the country’s independence, they now see the light of hope as the authorities have initiated efforts to connect the villages with Haragach Municipality and Kaunia Sadar.
During the dry season, locals cross the dying river (Mora Teesta in Bengali) on foot but they have to rely on boats and a bamboo bridge that they built themselves when the water level rises. This hampers the movement of locals, mainly students and farmers, every day and when they take patients to hospitals.
Locals say the bridge is in dilapidated condition and may collapse anytime.
The bridge point is locally known as Golden Ghat. In 2013, the villagers constructed the 310-foot-long bamboo bridge with the help of Haragach municipality commissioners Manik Sabed Ali and Tajul.
The villages affected by the situation during monsoon are Chinatuli and Premer Bazar villages under Rajpur Union; Talpatti, Horin Chora, Milon Bazar and Tangrir Bazar of Khuniagachh Union; Char Chotura and Dhumgara under Haragach Municipality, and Pallimari village under Haragach Union.
Over the years. most of the public representatives promised a concrete bridge during election campaigns but took no effort to implement them after being elected, the residents complain.
Mozahar Ali of the area said that there are five village haats, five primary schools and two madrasas in the char areas. Since there is no bridge, thousands of people are forced to risk their lives every day to cross the branch of the Teesta River.
Residents Afzal Hossain and Sajjad Ali said their only means of transportation was the bamboo bridge. As a result, the farmers have to suffer greatly in the transportation of agricultural tools and crops. Along with that, they are deprived of fair price.
Local teacher Md Shahjahan said heavy vehicles cannot use the bamboo bridge due to vulnerability. Moreover, people have to remain careful when the river swells up.
Some students from the char areas including Afsana Parveen, Salma and Sabu said that it is not a problem for them to attend classes across the river during the dry season. But if the water level rises during the monsoon, they have to risk their lives.
Everyone says there will be a paved bridge but it never happens, they said.
Majed Ali, a prominent person in the area, said: “In the 52 years of independence, many public representatives promised to build a bridge over the Mora Teesta River but they did not come to the area once they were elected. At present, the condition of the bamboo bridge is also shaky. It can collapse at any moment.”
Councillor of Ward No 8 Abdul Quader Rana said that the construction of a paved bridge at Golden Ghat has become a dire need. The locals have raised the issue to the mayor several times and experts have also visited the site to assess the feasibility.
But he could not say for sure when the bridge will be constructed or not at all.
Contacted, Haragach Municipality Mayor Ershadul Haque said steps are underway to construct the bridge without delay.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/nation/2023/07/14/over-30000-people-marooned-as-teesta-river-crosses-danger-level
