Locals suffer in absence of bridge on Atharobenki River

Khulna Correspondent :

Although an initiative has been taken to build a bridge on the Atharobenki River, which flows between Shiali and Sheikhpura Bazar in Khulna’s Terokhada Upazila, the work has been stalled for a long time.

As a result, people on both sides of the river still rely on boats, which becomes even more risky during the monsoon season.

Local residents complain that despite demanding a concrete bridge for many years, no effective action has been taken.

The work stopped a few days after the construction work began. Now, only dilapidated construction materials and incomplete structures are at the work site.

Abdul Aziz, a job seeker from Sheikhpura area, said, “We have to stand in line for boats every day to take our children to school and college.

We are afraid of crossing with someone who is sick – what if there is danger in the middle of the river?”

Farmer and small businessman Mohsin Gazi said, “It now takes 40 minutes to go from one side of the market to the other.

When the river swells during the monsoon, boats are not available at all. Then we get into trouble.”

Local public representatives said that there are various complications in the process of allocating the necessary funds for the bridge and approving the project.

Despite informing the concerned authorities several times, there is no visible progress in the construction of the permanent (concrete) bridge.

Rafiqul Islam, a businessman from Shiali Bazar, said, “We had hoped that the construction work had started. But there has been no work for a year. We have to travel by boat, taking risks.”