No bridge bulit in Beanibazar in 54 years

Sylhet Correspondent :

Its reality is largely dim in the marginal areas of Sylhet. One example of this is the Patan-Phulmolik Karti Canal area of Beanibazar Upazila.

Even in the last 54 years, a bridge has not been built in the largest locality of the upazila and an important spot of the marginal economy.

Local residents have been demanding the construction of a bridge over the Patan-Phulmolik Karti Canal of the upazila for centuries.

Although assurances have been given by the public representatives and public administration at various times, no effective steps have been taken.

In such a situation, at least 20,000 people in this area have been suffering extremely for more than 50 years.

They demand a bridge over that canal; which will speed up the communication of people in several important villages in the vicinity.

Along with this, the supply of agricultural products will increase.

This will have a positive impact on the rural economy. The people of Patan, Phulmalik, Ghaghua and other villages have been suffering from communication problems for decades due to the lack of a bridge.

However, three years ago, a proposal was sent to the ministry by the Upazila Engineering Office under the ongoing nationwide under-100-meter bridge construction project to alleviate the transportation problems of the residents of the affected areas.

Although the period of that project is about to end, no specific information has been received about the construction of the proposed bridge.

Talking to locals, it was learned that the only communication road to Phulmalik-Ghaghua village in Alinagar union of Beanibazar upazila is divided by the Patan-Phulmalik canal.

Due to the lack of a bridge over the canal, the villagers are deprived of uninterrupted road communication and all humanitarian and government facilities.

The villagers have somehow made arrangements to cross the canal by building a bamboo bridge over the canal, which is about 50 meters long.

Although this bridge can be used during the dry season, the bridge often collapses due to strong currents during the rainy season.

If someone falls ill in the area, it is impossible to take them to the hospital on an emergency basis. Apart from that, this bridge sometimes collapses during the monsoon.

People have to face difficulties in unexpected situations. The financially backward people of this area suffer the most. At the same time, farmers are worried about the decrease in the supply of locally produced agricultural products.

Villagers said that the bamboo bridge was built in 2019 at the initiative of the residents of a few villages by collecting donations and spending 1.5 lakh taka.

When the bamboo bridge broke in the terrible flood of 2022, the villagers built another bridge on a smaller scale. When the bridge broke again in the flood of 2024, the locals had to face difficulties.

Currently, residents of Patan, Phulmalik and Ghaghua areas are crossing the river at risk using this single bamboo bridge.

The canal flowing between the two villages has divided the villages of Patan and Phulmalik.

The villagers have called on the responsible authorities to take the initiative to establish a modern communication system by building a bridge over the Patan-Phulmalik canal that divides the rural township.

The Upazila Engineering Office said that in 2022, after the floods, a preliminary proposal was sent to the ministry to build a bridge over the Patan-Phulmalik canal in Alinagar of the upazila. This proposal was sent under the under 100-meter bridge project.

Village elder Murabbi Akmal Ali said that a few months ago, when a young man from the village died, his relatives faced extreme difficulty in bringing his body home.

Later, some of them were forced to carry the body on their shoulders to the area.

Abdul Karim, a young man from the village, said that it is doubtful whether such a dilapidated bridge exists anywhere else. The government changes, but their fate does not change.

Upazila Engineer Deepak Kumar Das said that three years ago, a proposal was sent to build a bridge over this canal under the under 100-meter project.