Emon Mia
River boats are the only means of daily transportation for the people of Palashbari in Gaibandha, Ghoraghat in Dinajpur, and 50 villages in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur district. For nearly five decades, millions of people have been having to cross the Karatoya River in Kishoregari Union of Palashbari Upazila, suffering from various kinds of hardships every day due to the lack of three bridges. Locals are facing immense hardship as no bridges have been constructed at these three important crossing points, Rishi Ghat and Hajir Ghat, just 13 kilometers west of Palashbari Municipal City, and Olir Ghat in Ambagan, 8 kilometers south. Although the LGD has inspected and inspected these three ghats several times, the bridge construction activities have repeatedly stalled. Even after almost half a century of independence, people from at least 50 villages, including school and college students, businessmen, and people from various professions, are crossing the river every day, suffering from hardship and distress due to the lack of construction of bridges. There seems to be no end to their suffering! The locals demand that if bridges are quickly built in these places in the upazila, the suffering of school and college students, as well as people from various walks of life, in these villages will be reduced. It is known from the field that the Karatoya River flows along the border of Kishoregari Union of Palashbari Upazila of Dinajpur and Gaibandha. And this flowing river is Hajir Ghat in Megharchar area, which is near Ghoraghat municipality, and on the other hand, Rishi Ghat, which is a river crossing between Chakbala and Naldanga Tekani villages. The distance of Rishi Ghat from Palashbari municipality is about 13 kilometers, and the distance of Rishi Ghat from this river to Raniganj is 5 kilometers. Also, the Oli Ghat of the Macch river is next to Ambagan on the Palashbari Ghoraghat road, which is 8 kilometers away from Palashbari municipality. On the other side of the river, millions of people from at least 50 villages of different classes and professions, including Naldanga, Tekani, Chakbala, Kashiabari, Jafar, Munglishpur, Palpara, Shilpara, Gonakpara, Hasankhor, Ramchandrapur, Jaitor, Ganeshpur, Bengulia, Baraipara, Bora Shimultala, Mijarpur, Prajapara, Kishoregari and Ghoraghat, Ambagan, Rishighat, Bodar, Bagpara, Shilpara, Kharol, Balupara, Shyampur, Chandpara, Sikhnipara, Durgapur, Raniganj, are risking their lives crossing the river on boats through the ghats. Even though 50 years have passed, these bridges have not been built under any government. Numerous students, businessmen, farmers, and pedestrians from various walks of life cross these ghats in boats and bamboo baskets during the dry season to travel to educational institutions, markets, and markets. When the monsoon season arrives, the river overflows with water, increasing the suffering of the people on the ghats. Also, if a patient suddenly falls ill, his life depends on time. If there is a slight delay, the patient’s life and even death have to wait there in unbearable pain at this ghat. In addition, farmers of various agricultural products, including bicycles, motorcycles, auto-driven vans, and goods-laden vans, travel through the ghat to sell their crops to larger markets, risking their lives. This suffering has been going on for years due to the lack of a bridge. The long-standing demand of the common people for the rapid construction of bridges in important locations has become extremely urgent. If these three separate bridges are constructed, the people of this area will be able to travel to various areas including Raniganj, Osmanpur, Ghoraghat, Dinajpur, and more in a short time at a low cost. He demanded that the concerned authorities pay attention to the construction of the bridges and the renovation of the connecting roads and that measures be taken to construct the bridges as soon as possible. Upazila Engineer (Additional Duty) Tapan Kumar Chakraborty said, “Our engineers from the concerned ministry and LGD have inspected and inspected the three ghats on site several times. After that, no instructions have been received from LGD, we have officially informed our concerned senior officials about this matter.” In this regard, Palashbari Upazila Executive Officer Nazmul Alam said, “I have just joined and after knowing the matter, necessary measures will be taken to prevent public suffering.”