Thakurgaon:
Due to lack of attention by the authorities concerned, about 30,000 people of eight villages in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon district are being forced to use a makeshift bamboo structure on the Tangon river for long for their movements that poses serious risk.
Not only general people, patients, students, children and even elderly men are seen crossing the vulnerable bamboo structure regularly due to their daily necessities. Despite the long cherished demand for a permanent bride on the river, no initiative for a bridge has yet been taken by the authorities concerned that triggering anger among the locals.
Locals said, during the monsoon, banana-tree rafts become their only means of crossing, while a fragile bamboo bridge serves as the lifeline in the dry season. This exposes children, students, farmers, and daily commuters to constant accident risks. Despite decades passing since independence, a permanent bridge has yet to be built.
Every year, locals pool their own resources to collect bamboo and construct or repair the bridge, which becomes dangerously rickety within a year. Driven by livelihood needs, women, men, the elderly, and children are forced to traverse this perilous route daily.
The suffering intensifies dramatically during the monsoon season. As water levels rise, using the bamboo bridge becomes nearly impossible, forcing locals and students to rely on banana-tree rafts. School and college students bear the brunt of this hardship; not only is it difficult to reach educational institutions on time, but the constant fear of accidents looms large.
Beyond daily commuting, the lack of a bridge severely disrupts local agriculture and commerce. Farmers face extreme hardships transporting agricultural produce—such as paddy, jute, maize, wheat, potatoes, ginger, chillies, onions, and garlic—to the Pirganj market. Crossing the rickety bridge with heavy loads frequently leads to accidents, resulting in higher transport costs and wasted time.
According to local residents, despite repeated appeals to public representatives and authorities over the years, they have received only assurances with no tangible action. Constructing a permanent bridge would streamline communication with the Pirganj upazila headquarters and surrounding areas, bringing positive transformations to education, healthcare, agriculture, and local trade.
Amid widespread development narratives, thousands of people continue to endure immense suffering simply due to the lack of a single bridge. Locals have urgently called upon the relevant authorities to take effective measures for the swift construction of a permanent bridge to alleviate their long-standing ordeal.