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Setting bamboo and wood planks on the collapsed approach to an important road in Sunamganj and erecting a bamboo bridge over the river Dharla in Netrakona the locals have made temporary arrangement for their movement.
Our Sylhet Correspondent reports: Villagers in Sunamganj were compelled to erect temporary structure with bamboo and wood planks as there has been no initiative to rebuild the approach after it collapsed amid heavy rain years ago. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood are now using the temporary structure risking their life.
Thousands of people from over 10 villages have to use the road known as Budhrail Road linking Bhoberbazar-Syedpur Road, the main road link of the Syedpur-Shaharpara union with the Jogannathpur upazila headquarters and neighbouring areas.
As the authority took no steps to rebuild the approach after it collapsed about two years ago snapping road link of a vast area the locals arranged a temporary structure by using bamboo and wood a year back.
The temporary arrangement is still in force. Small vehicles are also using it amid risks as there is no alternative yet. The old and poor structure may be damaged any time, a number of locals like Anwar Hossain, a trader of Syedpur Bazaar apprehended.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Shahadat Hossain said, "Tk 3.2 million (32 lakh) were spent for constructing the small bridge on the Dhopakhali canal through a construction firm in 2016-2017. The report on the collapse of its approach is already in the knowledge of the higher authority."
Measures would soon be taken to rebuild the damaged part, he added.
Our Netrakona Correspondent says: In the absence of a paved bridge over the Dhalai river at West Moinpur KDC point, about 50,000 people of seven villages in Netrakona municipality have been living a miserable life for 70 years.
A bamboo bridge over the Dhalai river at West Moinpur KDC point in Netrakona district— FE Photo
Everyday, about ten thousand people travel on the bamboo bridge. People of West Moinpur, Mahmudpur area, Mankanda, Ullati, Koyrati, Katpura, Pukuria and thousands of villagers are dependent on this bamboo bridge.
It has been seen that people have to go to educational institutions, banks and haat- bazars in the city through the bamboo bridge built in the KDC area. But to facilitate their movement, they have to cross the bamboo bridge over the Dhalai river.
It is known that the bridge was built by the local people on their own initiative some 70 years back. Since then the bridge is maintained by the locals. However, after two to three years, the bamboo poles and mats were replaced. All this is done with the financial support of the local people. At the beginning of this year, it was rebuilt at a cost of about Tk 0.1 million (1 lakh) at the initiative of the municipality.
Md. Sultan Mia, a businessman from West Moinpur village, said, "People from many villages have been using this bamboo bridge for years. At night, one has to walk with a torch. There is a fear of falling."
Abdur Rahman, a local resident of the same village, said, "People were crossing the bridge on foot. Everyone is moving carefully."
Netrakona Municipal Mayor Nazrul Islam Khan said, "I can't say exactly whether a paved bridge will be built or not."