Hundreds of people in Kaunia Upazila of Rangpur have been facing serious problems as a bridge on the Manas River has collapsed recently due to a flash flood.
The 140 ft long bamboo-made bridge over the river has connected the people of two villages under Haragach union with the upazila headquarters. The recent flood and rush of upstream water in the Manas River eroded the bamboo bridge built by the local people on a volunteer basis.
Locals said the bridge was damaged badly on June 18 due to the flash flood and the rush of upstream water in the Manas River, the tributary of the Teesta River in the upazila.
An elderly resident of Purbo Najirdaho village, Auyb Ali said hundreds of families living on both sides of the river at Najirdaho village of the upazila have been facing severe troubles with their daily movement and communication with the upazila town. School and officegoers have become the worst victims. They have to spend additional money and time taking alternative paths to get to their destination every day.
He also said earlier, a decade ago, the villagers used boats to cross the river for their daily movement. Later with the increasing peoples’ movement, the villagers on a volunteer basis built a 140 ft long bamboo-made bridge over the river for their communication. The villagers used to repair the bridge every year before the monsoon. As there is no alternative option, people have to move on the bridge despite its vulnerability.
Local people have been demanding to build a bridge on the river for a long time. The upazila parishad later started to construct a wooden bridge over the river beside the bamboo bridge last year. Unfortunately, around fifty per cent work on the bridge remained incomplete. Thus, the bridge is of no use to ease the suffering of the people. They demanded the completion of the construction of the bridge soon.
A farmer, Aziz Miah who has croplands on both sides of the river said, they are facing a severe toll to do their daily farming activities. They have to walk around five kilometres of additional road to go to the Upazila headquarters due to the damage to the bridge.
Hamida Begum, a resident of the area said, finding no alternative, children, being frightened, have to use the risky bamboo-made bridge to go to school and college every day. Their school movement has remained halted since the collapse of the bridge.
Haragach Union Parishad Chairman, Raju Ahamed said, the union parishad used to repair the bamboo bridge every year.
“We started to construct a wooden bridge over the river last year. Almost sixty per cent of the work has been done. The rest of the work will be completed soon. We are giving repeated reminders to the Upazila Engineering Department in this regard, “ he added.
Upazila Engineer, Asaduzzaman Jemy said, a project to build a bridge over the river has been approved. The construction work will start soon.
Anowarul Islam Maya, Kawnia Upazila Parishad Chairman said, the Upazila Parishad will soon construct a concrete bridge over the river to ease the sufferings of the people.
