Leading by example

People of seven villages in Manikganj Sadar upazila have set an example by taking an initiative to build a concrete bridge over a canal at Palora Mollar Ghat on their own.

This correspondent visited the spot early this month and talked to the villagers about the initiative of constructing the bridge.

Locals said 70 percent of the bridge construction work had been completed, spending Tk 25 lakh.  

Most of the people of Char Betilar, Char Patrail, Chak Gobindopur, Palora, Dhakar Bajor, Paschim Rathora and Gujurir Char villages extended their hands to the initiative by giving money and labour.

The villagers have sought financial support from the government so that they can complete rest of the work.

They said the Palora Mollar Ghat is the only point for crossing the canal of people of 13 villages on both sides of the canal under Betila-Mitora union.

The villagers are now crossing the canal on a bamboo-made bridge.

Locals said some people of Char Betilar and Betilar villages first came up with the idea of building the bridge. 

Rafikul Islam Ghotu, one of the initiators, told this correspondent that they decided to build the bridge in a meeting in February last year.

Ataur Rahman Ata, chairman of Manikganj Sadar upazila, gave them Tk 6 lakh from his upazila parishad funds. Mofiz Uddin Bablu, engineer of Manikganj Sadar upazila LGED, is providing them technical assistance without any fees, he said.

On completion of the bridge, farmers will benefit greatly as they can take their produce to markets easily, the chairman said.