People of 10 villages in Bera upazila in Pabna have been facing immense sufferings as their only means of communication, a makeshift bamboo bridge has broken down last month.
Visiting the bridge, this correspondent witnessed that locals of the villages crosses the bamboo bridge above the Boktarpur canal there taking huge risk.
School going children and thousands of residents of the 10 village there have to use the bamboo bridge to reach Bera upazila sadar as there are no road connection or concrete bridge to connect 10 villages of Varenga union and Bera upazila. The villagers built the bridge on self-help basis in order to facilitate communication, locals said, adding that the people's representatives joined them only before the elections.
Some sections of the bridge have also broken down and the villagers are crossing it at great risk.
Pedestrian Kaiyum Ali said hundreds of people cross the risky bamboo bridge every day and children and women suffer a lot, but none comes to help them.
Nazir Sheikh said they sometimes see some people measuring the area, but no bridge has been built.
School student Riaje Mondol said hundreds of students cross the bamboo bridge at great risk everyday, especially in the rainy season. aSometimes, they fall into the water while crossing the bridge.Hafizur Rahman said as schools, colleges, banks, offices and Raksa bazar are on the other side of the river, they cross the bridge at risk of accidents.
Abdul Khalek Sheikh said, “The suffering becomes worse during the rainy season, as we have to walk a long distance to reach our destinations.” Local Union Parishad Chairman M Rafique Ullah said the makeshift bamboo bridge will be repaired soon.
