Kurigram Correspondent:

For more than three years, over 10,000 residents of eight villages in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram have been risking their lives daily by crossing the Nilkomol River on a single bamboo bridge.

The bridge connects Balatari and Chandrakhana villages under Phulbari Sadar union. Once, a wooden bridge stood there, but after it collapsed, no permanent structure has been built.

For 60-year-old farmer Ehsan Ali, the bamboo bridge is a reminder of heartbreak. His son Atikur Rahman, 36, fell from the bridge a year ago, was severely injured, and died after nearly a month of treatment.

“I myself have fallen twice and been hurt,” Ehsan said. “All we get are promises. Nobody can say when a real bridge will be built.”

Local college student Faruk Hossain, 19, also fell just a week ago. “I was injured, and my mobile phone was ruined. Accidents happen here almost every week. When the wooden bridge was here, it was safe.”

Farmer Aktar Ali, 58, said, “For the past three years, we’ve been building this bridge ourselves. Every year I provide around 50 bamboos, and others give labour. Even though I cross daily, it feels like I could fall any moment.”

The bamboo bridge is the only route for people from Balatari, Chandrakhana, Jelepra, Kumarpra, Bamanatari, Abashon, Bairagipara, and Dashiar Chhara villages.

Contacted, Mamunur Rahman, Phulbari upazila engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department, said, “I visited the site and have already submitted a proposal to build a 120-metre bridge over the river. I am pursuing approval from the higher authorities.”

Phulbari UNO Rehenuma Tarannum said, “For the villagers’ temporary movement, allocation has been made to build a bamboo-and-wood bridge. Work will start very soon.”

She said at the same time, LGED has been requested to build a permanent concrete bridge. The project proposal is awaiting approval and funding.