Thousands of people from five villages under Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah have been suffering badly for want of a permanent bridge over a canal of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) at Berbari village of the upazila.
Now, the people have been crossing the point through a bamboo made narrow platform.
Shahidul Islam, a farmer of the area, said the people of five villages, including Bajukhali, Berbari, Dudsar and Chandpur, are using the bamboo-made structure on a regular basis. As there is no permanent bridge, people of the villages collect 50 to 60 pieces of bamboo and made the temporary bridge. Only the people with bicycles can cross the bridge, while the women and children avoid it and walk two kilometres or more distance to reach their destinations using a different route.
The farmers cross it with risk when they carry their crops, including paddy, jute and wheat. They are also forced to use the bamboo-made bridge to go to local markets to sell their crops twice a week.
The farmers also have to spend more on transportation for their crops. Their crop production costs go up due to the increased carrying costs, affecting their lives.
The minor school children are the worst sufferers as they feel insecure to cross the bamboo-made bridge, Shahidul Islam said.
Chairman of Phulahari Union Parishad Awal Hossain said they have informed the matter to the BWDB authorities long ago, while no effective measure has been taken so far.
When contacted, executive engineer of the BWDB in Jhenaidah Zahidul Islam said he was not informed about the matter earlier.
He said the BWDB authorities are now facing financial constraints to continue the operational and maintenance works of the old and dilapidated bridges, culverts, regulation bridge gates and other establishments. Here construction of the same is almost impossible at this moment. Further, they might consider the same if there was any feasibility of construction of any bridge at the point on an emergency basis to end the sufferings of people.
