Bamboo bridge lone link for thousands for decades

It could be a charming feature in a work of literature: a bamboo bridge that has for 50 years been the primary connection for thousands of villagers to the outside world. But in Mymensingh's Bhaluka upazila, for the residents of 15 villages such a bridge is not charming. It's an obstacle to modern living.
The bridge over the River Khiru at Mohna in Rajoir union is the main link to neighbouring Baluka union, relied upon by hundreds of people daily including many students commuting to the area's several educational institutions, including Kornapara Government Primary School and Ashka High School.
"The bridge has been neglected for decades," says second-year intermediate student Abdullah Pathan, who attends Bhaluka Degree College. "Nobody has ever listened to our pleas for a modern bridge."
"If a bridge was constructed," says first-year honours student in English at Government Ananda Mohan College, Motiur Rahman, "the distance by road to upazila headquarters would be halved. It would save so much time." Children suffer the most, he adds.
"We struggle all year," agrees Piyel, a class-six student of Ashka High School. "But during the monsoon months many don't attend class at all because of the bridge."
Jonot Ali, 70, a farmer from Mohna village also notes that the slippery bridge is especially perilous for children and senior citizens during the rainy season.
According to locals, concerned departments have been approached to remedy the situation on many occasions. Prior to elections, they say, political leaders are quick to pledge the construction of a concrete bridge, but once polls close such promises vanish.
Retired school teacher from Mohna, Md Harej Ali Master, 65, says because of no bridge farmers on both sides of the river have trouble realising reasonable profits for their produce, due to the additional transportation costs. "Oftentimes, they are forced to sell produce at what are effectively throwaway prices," he laments.
"The bamboo bridge has been in use since the Pakistan period," says Rajoir union's chairman Md Nurul Islam Badsha. "The people's suffering from not having a proper bridge is yet to end."
According to Badsha, local lawmaker Dr M Amanullah issued a development order letter in favour of constructing a bridge; and he says he personally attended the concerned ministry in this regard, but there has been no progress.
Bhaluka's upazila nirbahi officer Kamrul Ahsan Talukder says he has not yet been informed about the matter.