No bridge leaves residents in 4 Tahirpur villages facing hardship

Thousands of residents in four villages of Tahirpur upazila in Sunamganj have been enduring prolonged hardship due to the absence of a bridge over a branch of the River Baulai, with the situation worsening during the monsoon season.
Residents of Rasulpur, Tukergaw, Gobindapur and Songrampur villages in South Borodal union said they have been forced to cross the river for decades using makeshift bamboo walkways or boats, often at significant risk to their safety.
During the dry season, villagers manage to cross the river on foot using narrow bamboo platforms. However, in the monsoon, when water levels rise, they rely on boats or construct temporary bamboo bridges, exposing school and college students, businesspeople and office workers to potential accidents.
Locals said frequent incidents of people falling from the structures and being injured have heightened concerns, particularly for students and elderly residents.
According to local sources, around 5,000 people live in the four villages, yet there is no reliable road connectivity. To access the upazila headquarters, hospitals or the district town, residents must cross the river, which becomes especially dangerous during the rainy season.
Villagers have long demanded the construction of a permanent bridge between Tukergaw, near the Shri Shri Kali Temple area, and Takatukia, saying it would significantly ease movement and improve access to essential services.
“Students from our villages have to cross the river every day, risking their lives. Parents remain anxious about possible accidents,” said local residents Rubel Mia and Saiful Islam Rokon. They added that a bridge would also facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce, including paddy and vegetables, benefiting local farmers.
Other residents, including deed writer Ala Uddin and employees Zainal and Kalam Mia, said people often fall from the makeshift bamboo structures, resulting in serious injuries. They alleged that despite repeated appeals, no effective initiative has been taken by the authorities.
South Borodal Union Parishad Chairman Haji Yunus Ali acknowledged the problem, stating that residents are compelled to depend on boats or temporary bamboo bridges during the monsoon. He urged the authorities to take necessary steps to construct a permanent bridge in the public interest.
Tahirpur Upazila Engineer Zahidul Islam said he would look into the matter and inform higher authorities after conducting an assessment.