Locals suffer in absence of a bridge over Karatoya River

Local residents have been suffering a lot due to the absence of a permanent bridge over the Karatoya River at the Baharampur-Mirzapur point in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna district.

Local people think it unfortunate that even after 53 years of the country's independence, a concrete bridge has not been built at the important river site inconveniencing their easy movement.

Serious communication difficulties are faced by the people of 10 villages on both sides of the river consequent upon the absence of a bridge.

Under the present circumstances, public life in the region is lagging behind in various respects, including economy.

People in this region lament that due to poor communication, they are unable to become economically self-sufficient.

People have to cross the river by using boats for about eight months of the year and using makeshift bamboo bridge for the remaining four months.

Surrounded by the river, the villages of Baharampur and Mirzapur are deprived of proper development.

It was learned talking with the locals that there are several villages on the west bank of the river, including Binyabari, Gaurnagar, Karkola, Bardanagar, Chinabhatkur, Baharampur.

On the other hand, in Mirzapur on the east bank, there are situated Nimaichara Union Parishad office, Mirzapur Degree College, a high school, a madrasa, Nimaichara Union Land Office, bank and famous Mirzapur Haat of the area. In addition, several other villages are located on the east bank of the river.

For various necessities, people on the west bank of the river have to travel to the east bank and vice versa.

At least 50,000 people of the 10 villages have to rely on boats during the rainy season and temporary bamboo bridges during the dry season to cross the river.

Ehiya Ali, a resident of Baharampur village, told the FE that during the rainy season, people in the area have to wait on the riverbank waiting for a boat. When the river water recedes, a bamboo bridge is built. At this time, they have to cross the river on the bridge, taking risks.

It is not possible to take sick people and pregnant women to the hospital easily. Children and elderly people suffer most while crossing the river.

Local residents lament that despite informing the public representatives and the departments concerned about their sufferings for a long time, those are not taken into account.

Even in the past, candidates during elections promised to build the bridge. But after the elections, the elected representatives forgot about that promise.

Mojibar Rahman, a resident of Gaurnagar village, said that thousands of people in the village are suffering every day due to the lack of the bridge.

Locals are facing extreme hardship due to the lack of a bridge to travel to the Nimaichra Union Parishad office, land office, Mirzapur Degree College, Mirzapur Haat and other union headquarters.

People of the area think that even though the country has made considerable progress in terms of communication, it cannot be believed seeing the picture here.

Locals have demanded immediately constructing a bridge to reduce public sufferings and improve public life.

Chatmohar Upazila Engineer Sultan Mahmud of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) told the FE that proposals for construction of eight bridges including this bridge have been sent to the higher authorities under the long bridge construction project.

The survey and verification have not been done yet. He hopes that a bridge will be built at this important place in near future.

When asked what proposals were sent without survey and verification, the engineer kept mum.

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