Thousands of people, including students, of two unions of two upazilas in Dinajpur have been going through immense trouble, as they are being compelled to commute through a shaky bamboo bridge for many years.
The bridge connects two unions, Khanpur union of Birampur upazila and Gopalganj union of Nawabganj upazila in the district.
Locals built the 60-metre long bamboo bridge over a river named Nalshisa, after local representatives didn't pay heed to their demands of making a permanent concrete bridge.
During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent saw people using the 60--metre long bamboo bridge to go to their destinations, including educational institutions and markets, amid the risk of fatal accidents.
Locals including students, businessmen and farmers vented their frustration as the problem has remained unsolved for many years.
Tajul Islam and Smriti Rani, who attend schools using this bridge, said they are in constant fear as the bridge keeps swinging everytime they step on the bridge.
“Like me, many farmers cultivate produce beside the rivers of the bridge. As the bridge is shaky and could collapse any time, we need to find different ways to travel in order to transport our produce to the markets, “said farmer Rezaul Islam.
“I go to Birampur and Fulbari via Rantanpur using this shaky bridge to buy products for my shop. During the rainy season, the bridge goes underwater. As a result, I am forced to use a different way, which is 20km more than the usual ways to go to Birampur via Nawabganj. We cannot cross the bridge with lots of goods as it shakes,” said Shopkeeper Azizul Haque.
Van driver Sadrul and Khademul also complained about the bridge saying: “The bridge starts shaking as soon as we start driving our vans over this bridge. We fear that it can collapse at any moment.”
“We made the bridge with bamboo and wood in order to commute temporarily. However, we are going through many problems. The bridge broke down many times when rice and potato laden vans were driven over it, and three to four locals even died after falling off this shaky bridge. Representatives of our locality seek votes by making promises that they will build a bridge. In spite of all this, the problems still remain unsolved,” said Robin Saren.
Tauhidur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Birampur said: "We are informed that there is a bamboo made risky bridge, near Lalghat area in the middle of Birampur and Nawabganj upazilas. Honorable member of parliament (MP) issued a Demi Official (DO) letter already for constructing a permanent concrete bridge. We hope that the problem will be solved in the coming days."