Our Correspondent
The bridge over the Kusta-Ichhamati River in Ghior upazila of Manikganj has been completely destroyed by floods in the last few years. People in the area use bamboo sacks to travel over the collapsed bridge. As the bridge has not been repaired for 19 long years, 60,000 people from 15-16 villages have to travel every day on bamboo sacks at the risk of their lives.
Hundreds of people from 15-16 villages including Kusta, Thakurkandi, Bharra, Binodpur, Khalsi, Kumuria, Bangaon, Narchi and Jeenpur Unions are suffering every day on this road at the risk of their lives. Traders in the area have to spend more to bring goods. No type of vehicle can move. There is no end to the suffering of many people in the area, including school and college students, during the floods.
It is learned that Upazila LGED constructed this bridge on Ichhamati River in 2002 at a cost of around Tk 12 lakh. Over the past few years, the entire western side of the bridge has been washed away by the river. And the two decks on the east side collapsed. As a result, people in the area built bamboo bridges over the damaged bridge to facilitate transportation.
Due to the strong current of the Ichhamati tributary river, many houses are being washed away by the river every year. This year, 12 houses and the western side of the bridge were washed away by the river. Father, the people living near the river with their grandfather’s house spends their days in panic during the flood.
The traditional cattle market of Ghior, Ramkantpur, KustaKafil Uddin Darji High School, Kusta Cemetery, Bepari Para Cemetery are under threat of river erosion due to heavy rains for several days.
Ghior Sadar UP Chairman Md Ahidul Islam Tutul said talks have been held with the upazila administration for the construction of the bridge. People from 15-16 villages travel on this hundred-year-old traditional road. At present thousands of people are traveling on this bridge at the risk of their lives, on the bamboo bridge at the risk of their lives. However, the people of the area are fearing a major accident at any time.
Upazila Engineer MdSajjakur Rahman said a proposal has been sent to build the bridge. The great bridge cannot be built without an approach road.
Md. Ikramul Islam Khabir, Vice-president of Ghior Upazila Awami League, said that many people from about 15-16 villages travel on this bridge every day. Our bridge has been completely damaged by the floods of recent years. At the initiative of the villagers, any kind of transportation is arranged with bamboo bridges. However, new bridges need to be built quickly.
