Scenic Durgapur isolated for want of a bridge
Fourteen years after start of construction, incomplete Shuknakuri bridge on Netrakona-Durgapur road in Durgapur upazila remains a farce for the local people who have to make tedious journey for going to other areas.Photo: STAR
Durgapur, a scenic tourist spot in Netrakona district, is virtually isolated from rest of the country as construction of a bridge that started 14 years ago is yet to be complete while another bridge damaged by flood two years ago awaits repair. Rich in mineral resources, Durgapur has the country's biggest china clay mine at Bijoypur and a ceramic factory based on the clay has been set up in the upazila. At least 40 tonnes of coal are collected every day from Someshwary River and supplied to other districts. Mostly indigenous people live in Durgapur, a bordering upazila comprising the Garo hills. Birishiri Tribal Cultural Academy, the lone institution for development and research on tribal cultural activities in greater Mymensingh area, has been set up in Durgapur. Durgapur is also the birthplace of great communist leader Moni Singh and famous Tanka movement was launched from there. A good amount of fruits like banana and pineapple is supplied from Durgapur but traders from other districts have to make a tedious journey and face hurdles to reach the producers. Durgapur upazila headquarters is only 45 kilometres from Netrakona district town. To ease communication on Netrakona-Durgapur road, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) started construction of Suknakuri bridge in 1995 with an estimated cost of Tk 7.50 crore but the work stopped after completion of about 60 per cent work due to fund crisis, said Netrakona RHD officials. "Durgapur has great potentials for development and can make enormous contributions to the national economy. It is rich in minerals. Besides, the area can be developed into an attractive tourist spot. But everything depends on good communication system, which is lacking," said Md Julfiker Islam, executive engineer of local RHD. Asked about reconstruction of Janzail bridge, he said a project proposal has been submitted to the higher authorities but the fund is yet to be sanctioned. Local people have urged the authorities concerned to take necessary action for making the two bridges operational.
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