Iqbal Kabir Ronju, Chatmohar
Villagers at their own initiative have built a bamboo bridge recently at Notun Bazar Kheyaghat area on the Baral River which flows past the Chatmohar municipality of Pabna.
It is an easy and short way via the newly-built bridge for the people of Kumargarh and Barasingha villages on the north bank of the river to communicate with the municipal headquarters.
A concrete bridge was being constructed at this place with the funding of the government but, the construction work was recently halted due to flood situation on the river.
Therefore, for the time being, the villagers built this bamboo bridge on their own initiative at a cost of around Tk two lakh.
Even a few years ago, there were earthen cross dams at different places on the Baral River. The river was then almost dead. The cross dams were removed in 2016 as a result of the movement of the Baral Raksha Andolan (Save the Baral River Movement) Committee.
After that 3 bridges were built on this river in Ramnagar, Bonthar and New Bazar Jardis junction area. Construction of the bridge at the new market Ferryghat started later.
At that time, in the face of the demand of the locals, for a temporary bridge for crossing the river, with the financial support of Alhaj Md Maqbool Hossain, MP of Pabna-3 constituency and the initiative of the locals, a bamboo bridge was built at the new market Ferryghat area on the river.
Local people and vehicles used to cross the river using the bamboo bridge. The contractors started construction of the bridge at Notunbazar Ferryghat point on the river earlier this year, so the old bamboo bridge was demolished for the construction of the permanent bridge there.
A few days ago, when the water level of the river rose and it became impossible for the thousands of people of the two villages to cross the river to reach the Municipality. So, the locals were forced to build a temporary bamboo bridge with bamboo and money.
SM Mizanur Rahman, Member Secretary of the Baral Raksha Andolan Committee, said a bridge was being built at the site about four years after the cross dam was removed.
This problem will no longer exist after the construction of the bridge is completed. For the time being, the villagers took the initiative to complete the construction of the bamboo bridge.
