For nearly three decades, a missing bridge has kept six villages in Sirajganj disconnected from normal life, leaving residents dependent on a bamboo footbridge and a dilapidated road despite repeated promises and demands for a permanent solution.
Residents of Ramgati, Biyara, Chhotopiyari, Boropiyari, Ghonapara and Char Sapri villages under Kalia Horipur Union of Sirajganj Sadar Upazila say their daily struggles remain unchanged, with poor communication infrastructure continuing to limit access to education, healthcare and markets.
The road from Biyara Ghat to Char Sapri Government Primary School has become largely unusable due to years of neglect. In many places, the asphalt has disappeared, while deep potholes have made movement difficult.
Although a culvert exists on the route, its damaged approach road has left it almost ineffective for regular transportation.
Beside the road is a canal nearly six metres deep. Instead of a permanent bridge, residents have to rely on a bamboo footbridge to cross it every day, often risking their lives.
During the monsoon, rising water forces people to use boats, while in the dry season they return to the fragile bamboo structure. For years, this temporary arrangement has become their permanent reality.
The greatest suffering is faced by emergency patients, pregnant women, children and elderly residents.
When someone falls ill or needs urgent medical attention, transporting them to hospitals becomes a major challenge due to the broken road and risky crossing. In many cases, families have to arrange alternative means of transport instead of using regular vehicles.
The communication crisis has also affected the local economy. Farmers in the agricultural region face higher transport costs while carrying their produce to markets.
Poor connectivity often delays the delivery of agricultural goods, reducing farmers’ chances of receiving fair prices while increasing their expenses.
Students are also affected. During the rainy season, crossing the canal and travelling along the damaged road become risky, disrupting regular school attendance, according to locals.
Residents say construction of the bridge and repair of the road would bring major changes to the lives of people in the six villages.
They believe improved connectivity would reduce transport costs, make it easier to carry agricultural products to markets, ensure quicker access to healthcare and provide safer travel for students.
Sirajganj Sadar Upazila Engineer Rumana Afroze said a proposal has been sent to include the bridge from Biyara Ghat intersection to Char Sapri School under the Low-Cost Rural Road Bridge-Culvert Construction Project following applications from local residents.
“Once the proposal is approved, steps will be taken to construct the bridge through a tender process,” she said.
However, residents question how long they will have to wait after the proposal is submitted.
They ask how long a bamboo footbridge that has served as a lifeline for three decades will continue to replace a permanent structure.
