People suffer as flood washes away road

People of 10 villages in Manikganj have been suffering for want of a bamboo or wooden bridge for the last 15 days as the 60-foot road at Purba Uriajani under Ward No. 9 of Manikganj Municipality was damaged by flood on July 28.

This correspondent visited the areas yesterday and saw thousands of people of Barta, Nolondi, Ghosta, Char Ghosta, Baliabil, Char Baliabil, Opar Baliabil and Putail of Manikganj Sadar upazila and Uriajani, Kewarjani and Nayakandi areas of Manikganj Municipality, crossing the damaged part of the Ghosta-Barta-Purba Uriajani-Kewarjani-Nayakandi road on boats as it is filled with water.

The people of the areas said they can use the road if the municipality authorities make a bamboo or wooden bridge over the damaged section.

Abdul Kader, a CNG driver of Purba Uriajani village, said the road was damaged by the flood two weeks ago, but the authorities did not take any initiative to make a bamboo or wooden bridge.

Lalita Mandal and Oishi Akhter, Class VI students of Kusherchar Ismail Hossain High School, said they face problems going to their school by boat from their houses in Barta.

Ujjal Hossain, a ward councilor, said, "I am thinking of building a wooden bridge there."