Rangunia representative: Ichamati river of Rangunia. Governments go, governments come, many MPs are elected. Among them are influential ministers of the government. But sadly there is no bridge over the Ichamati River. Ghuche na Sialbukk area students/girls unfortunate sad misery. However, candidates of all parties promised to build a bridge over the Ichamati River during the election, but still no one has kept their word. Abul Bashar, a resident of Sialbukk area of Rajanagar Union No. 1 of Rangunia Upazila, spoke with anger.
About 20,000 people of the two unions have been suffering for ages as a bridge has not been built on the Ichamati river flowing over No. 1 Rajanagar and Dakshin Rajanagar unions of Rangunia upazila even after 51 years of independence. In particular, 10 thousand people of 3 villages surrounded by rivers in Sialbukk area of Rajanagar union are deprived of development due to the lack of a bridge. Even after 50 years of independence, as a bridge has not been built, these 3 villages have not had much impact of development.
As there is no bridge over the Ichamati river despite long demands, 20,000 people of 8 villages including Baruapara, Harinachara, Sialbukk and Phulbagicha of Upazila Rajanagar and South Rajanagar Union had to cross the river by pulling a rope for 51 years. Even though they cross the river with extreme misfortune and risk, there is no one to see the suffering of these people.
It is known that Parua-Ranirhat Kalinda Rani road is the connecting road between Chittagong-Kaptai road and Chittagong-Rangamati road. This road is the only way to travel to upazila and district town.
This Kalinda Rani Road runs over Rajanagar and South Rajanagar Union. And the Ichamati river flowing over the two unions. There are 3 villages on the west side of the river, 5 villages on the east side. Ichamati river surrounds 3 villages on the west side. Much like an island. About two hundred students studying in high schools, primary schools, colleges and madrasas of this village risk their lives to cross the Ichamati river by rope-pulled boats every day to Rajabhuban School, Khandlia Para Madrasa, Alamshah Para Kamil Madrasa, North Rangunia High School, North Rangunia Degree College, Traveled to Ranirhat College.
Also, daily people cross this river through Sialbukk Ghat for daily work. At the same time, thousands of people here travel to the district and upazila headquarters for various tasks such as farming with modern machinery, office-court, haat-bazaar, and seeking treatment for the sick. People of 3 villages of West Bank have to bear extreme suffering due to lack of bridge.
Children, women and the elderly have to suffer more. They have to wait for the men at the ghat. Then you have to cross the river with a boat by pulling the rope. During the rainy season, this suffering and misery becomes intense. Not only that, crossing this river becomes very dangerous during the monsoon season. While crossing the river, these villagers have to be victims of accidents every now and then. Locals said that boat sinking happens often.
Meanwhile, due to the lack of a bridge, the members of the police administration cannot reach the spot quickly in case of fire, going to the hospital with sick patients or any kind of accident in the 3 villages on the west bank of the river.
Complaints of local residents change party, government leaves, government comes, MP leaves, minister comes. But there is no bridge over the Ichamati river. But when the vote came, the leaders of all the parties promised to build the bridge, but no one kept their word. The construction of a bridge over the Ichamati river is now demanding the lives of the local people.
Roksana Akhter, a seventh class student of Rajbhuban High School said that we have to pull a rope and cross the river to go to school every day. Many times, if you don’t get a boat, you get late to school. And in the dry season you have to wade through knee-deep water. When the water in the river increases during the monsoon season, the journey has to suffer a lot. If there was a bridge, this problem would have been removed.
Abdul Quader, a teacher of Rajabhuban High School, said that the people of this village have to suffer all year round due to lack of a bridge. Crossing the boat is very dangerous especially for young school students and pregnant women. The construction of the bridge here is very important for the development of education, health and culture of the people of these villages.
Elderly Sultan Ahmed of Sialbukk area said that no matter how many governments have come, how many MPs have come and ministers have come, our fate has not changed in the long 50 years of the freedom struggle. But when the vote comes, the candidates of all parties promise to build a bridge over the Ichamati river. But still no one spoke. We strongly demand the government to construct a bridge on the Ichamati river as soon as possible.
Rajanagar UP Chairman and Upazila A. League General Secretary Eng: Shamsul Alam said, since the Awami League government came to power, the Honorable Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dr. Hasan Mahmud MP’s single-minded effort has so far been constructed in Rangunia upazila at a cost of thousands of crores of rupees. Even if there is no bridge on any river, bridges will be constructed in stages. A demand will be made in the upcoming monthly meeting of the Upazila Parishad regarding the construction of a bridge at that place of Ichamati river.
In this context, Upazila Engineer Didarul Alam said that the list of rivers in which bridges need to be constructed has been sent to the ministry. Still I will visit the place and if necessary send a proposal to the higher authority to construct a bridge over Ichamati River in Sialbukk area as soon as possible. Upazila executive officer Ataul Gani Osman
