Joymohan Para is a locality of ethnic zoom farmers in Ward No. 5 of Bandarban Sadar Union No. 3, just 6 km away from Bandarban Sadar. All the people of the neighborhood are zoom farmers. Including ethnic and Bengali residents at least 26 families live in the neighborhood.
The residents of this neighborhood are suffering for almost 50 years for lack of a bridge to cross Painechhara canal flowing through nearby area.
In 1969, the then government resettled 28 families that became refugees due to Kaptai Dam project, there. Although some families moved elsewhere for various reasons, most of the families remained permanently in Jayamohan Para.
Due to the presence of Pinechhara canal on the daily commuting path of the people living in the neighborhood, when the water level rises in the monsoon season, the movement of the locals completely stops. In case of emergency, they have to cross the canal by swimming at the risk of their lives and there is no way for women and children to cross the canal without extreme risks.
As a result, school going students are not able to go to school on time, making it difficult for the dying patient to reach the hospital quickly. It is very difficult to market the daily necessities or the agricultural products produced. Even if a person dies in the neighborhood, there is no limit to the suffering.
Housewife Kunjalta Chakma said it was not possible to return home in the evening if the canal water rose due to heavy rains in the afternoon after going to work in the morning. If there was a bridge, the people of the neighborhood would have benefited a lot. Neighbors Gurul Kanti Chakma, Mansahla Marma, Shaila Ching Marma and others said that they had applied for a bridge at different places at different times but no action was taken.
Sabukhay Marma, chairman of Bandarban Sadar Union Parishad No. 3, said the project implementation officer had inspected the site to provide a PIO bridge. The bridge could no longer be built due to PIO's project budget constraints.
Most recently, on March 5, 2019, an application was made for the construction of a bridge in front of Jaya Mohan Para along with the Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, Rangamati, under the joint signature of 26 hill-Bengali families. But nothing worked. That is why the people of Jaya Mohan Para have sought the attention of the Minister for Ctg Hill Tracts Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh, he added.
