Community-made bridge brings relief

Until recently, residents of Vuraghat and Chaulapara areas in Bogra's Shibganj municipality had to either take a boat or travel more than three kilometres by road to reach the villages on the far bank of the Gangnoi River. But on 4 February 2017 a new bridge was inaugurated. A structure of bamboo, it's not the most sophisticated bridge in the country, but it stands as a symbol of community spirit, a testament to what can be achieved by working together.

“Unfortunately, the municipality has no means to erect a concrete bridge at this time, due to a lack of funds,” explains the Shibgonj mayor Touhidur Rahman Manik. “For this reason our community undertook the project on a voluntary basis, in order to immediately alleviate the hardship of around 10,000 locals, including students, farmers and professionals, who need to cross the river on a regular basis.”

Under the mayor's leadership locals were mobilised, including youth and student organisation and sporting club members, to construct the bridge between 30 January and 3 February this year. In Shibgonj it seems, people know how to help themselves.

According to municipal councillor and inhabitant of Vuraghat, Abu Sayeed, local people donated 300 bamboo poles, rope, nails and wood to build the 172-foot long bridge. Men and women, boys and girls worked voluntarily for the five days of its construction.

Bangladesh Chhatra League members also took part. “We are proud of participating,” says their Shibgonj president Rizzaqul Islam. “We are ready to undertake any kind of work in our area to help our community.”

“The new bridge means a lot to the people of at least eight villages,” says one elderly local of Chaulapara, Akbar Ali. “It will save us a lot of time and allow us to transport our vegetables and other crops to the nearby Mohasthangarh vegetable market faster and much more easily.” For several villages the bridge also improves access to the municipal and district towns.