A bridge over a canal connecting the Meghna River has collapsed in Pashcim Charghasia village of Uttar Charbanshi union of Raipur upazila in Lakshmipur, leaving around 5,000 villagers facing severe hardship.
The bridge, built around seven years ago over Chandar Khal, has fallen into disrepair, forcing locals to rely on a makeshift wooden platform built with their own funds.
Residents fear the temporary structure could collapse at any time, causing casualties.
As a result, villagers are now risking their lives by crossing the canal using broken bamboo mats and makeshift rafts.
A visit to the area found that villagers of Char Induria had constructed the bridge over the canal near the Meghna River about seven years ago with their own financial contributions.
Around 5,000 residents and students from Charghasia, Char Induria and New Kanibogar Char under ward no 2 and nearby areas use the dangerous unpaved road and bridge regularly.
The collapse of the transport link has severely affected attendance at West Charghasia Government Primary School.
Several farmers, teachers, elderly people, women and children have also suffered accidents while attempting to cross the canal.
With road connectivity disrupted, agriculture and healthcare services in the area have come to a standstill.
Transporting soybeans, rice and vegetables produced in the char areas to markets has become extremely difficult, causing serious financial losses for farmers.
Meanwhile, in the absence of vehicles to take critically ill patients or pregnant women to hospitals, residents have no option but to carry them on their shoulders or use makeshift stretchers.
Uttar Charbanshi Union Parishad Member Azgar Sardar said residents of the char areas have long been demanding the construction of a proper road and a bridge over Chandar Khal to end their suffering.
Raipur upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) engineer Mohammad Kamrul Islam Siddique said they were aware of the issue.
“Necessary technical measures will be taken soon to construct roads, bridges and culverts along the embankment and riverbank areas to reduce the suffering of the char residents,” he said.
