FENI, June 30 (UNB): About 50,000 people of three upazilas in the district have to use a bamboo bridge over the Choto Feni river at Dakshin Koikhali village under Daganbhuiyan upazila, putting their lives at risk.
They have to cross the rickety bamboo bridge risking their lives every day to reach their destinations.
During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found the residents of more than 20 villages under Feni's Daganbhuiyan and Sadar upazilas and Cumilla's Chauddagram upazila have to cross the bridge every day to reach their destinations as it is the only means of communications for them.
The villages include Uttar Koikhali, Dakshin Koikhali, Koishalla, Narayanpur, Sadekpur, Sekandarpur villages in Daganbhuiyan upazila, Uttar Abupur, Dakshin Abupur, Alahiganj village in Feni Sadar upazila and Bakgram, Dakshin Banderjala, Uttar Banderjola, Alkara, Dhopakhila, Narayankuri, Akadia, Chapaliapara, Boidhora, Khadra, Nunaboti villages in Chauddagram upazila in Cumilla.
Locals said they have long been demanding that a concrete bridge be built over the small river to assuage their sufferings but the local administration allegedly did not pay any heed to it.
Ali Hossain, a resident of Uttar Sekandarpur village, said the bamboo bridge gets damaged during monsoon each year and the villagers have to fix it on their own after collecting money from local people.
Sharif Ullah, a student of Feni Government College, said many people, including students of different educational institutions, cross the river by boat for avoiding the use of the vulnerable bamboo bridge.
It takes Tk 5.0 per person for crossing the river by boat which many poor people cannot afford, he said.
Boatman Rostam Ali said, "Ahead of election, political leaders during their electioneering always promise to build a concrete bridge over the river but they forget it once the election is over."
Sindurpur Union Council Chairman Md Nur Nabi said they have applied to the higher authorities concerned seeking a concrete bridge over the river but the administration did not pay heed to it.
Two children of Sekandarpur and Uttar Koikhali village died after falling from the dilapidated bridge during monsoon last year, the chairman added.
Didarul Islam, chairman of Dadanbhuyan upazila, said necessary steps will be taken after a meeting with the high authorities of the Zila Council and Local Government Engineering Department.
Aziz Ahmed Chowdhury, chairman of Feni Zila Council, said the Zila Parishad does not have such a big budget to build any big concrete bridge. "However, I'll discuss the matter with the authorities concerned," he added.