Boat only means of communication for dwellers of 3 chars

BAGHA, RAJSHAHI, Oct 21: Among the 15 chars of the isolated Chakrajapur Union in Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi, Choumadia, Atarpur and Diarkadirpur chars remain neglected. 

For the residents of these three chars, the only means of communication is the boat. They have to travel to the upazila headquarters by boat.

According to local sources, people of the chars cross by engine-driven boats every day from morning until evening. The people of Choumadia, Atarpur and Diarkadirpur chars have to come to Choumadia Ghat on foot every day. From here they cross the Padma River and reach Gokulpur Ghat. Then they have to go to the upazila headquarters by van from there. In the dry season, it takes about 40 minutes to cross the Padma River. In the rainy season, it takes more than an hour. For half of the year, the Padma River remains turbulent. People have to travel risking their lives on the turbulent Padma.

At 11 am on Saturday, while crossing the Padma River, this correspondent spoke with Soleman Hossain of Choumadia Char. He said that the only reliance for communication is the boat. People have to cross the turbulent Padma risking their lives to reach their destination. In both the rainy and dry seasons, they have to come to the ghat on foot. Then they have to cross by boat. He demanded that a bridge be built over the Padma River at Gokulpur Ghat.

Abdur Rahman, former member of Ward No 2 Choumadia of Chakrajapur Union Parishad, said that Choumadia, Atarpur and Diarkadirpur chars are three wards of Chakrajapur Union. Among these, the number of voters in Ward No 1 Atarpur is 373. The number of voters in Ward No 2 Choumadia is 556. The number of voters in Ward No 3 Diarkadirpur is 987. There are about 750 families in these three wards. The population is about 3,050. There is only one primary school for the people of these three chars. There is no secondary or higher secondary educational institution. Meanwhile, river erosion has begun at an untimely period. Due to this erosion, more than 200 families have relocated their houses within three weeks. Because they do not have money to build their houses, many are living under the open sky.

Every year on 1 Baishakh, the ferry ghat is leased out. Every day, 1,500 to 2,000 passengers along with many motorcycles cross. Many people use this ghat to travel to the Kushtia and Rajshahi regions in a short time. They are deprived of health services.

Arifur Rahman of Bangla Bazar area of Chilmary Union in Daulatpur of Kushtia, on the Bangladesh-India border, was going to the Rajshahi city to see a doctor. At that time he said that going by bus takes two to three hours more. He travels through this ferry ghat to move in a short time. Electricity connection has been given to this area from Kushtia.

Sajamal Hossain and Niyarul Islam, boatmen of Gokulpur ferry ghat, said that there are two workers on each boat of this ferry ghat. A fare of Tk 70 per person is taken from the passengers. However, if a bridge is built over the river, the communication system will become much easier.

Meanwhile, people of eight chars including Chakrajapur, Laxminagar, Kalidaskhali, Palashifatehpur, Habirchar Nichphalashi Fatehpur, Am Bagan Char and Dadpur have long been applying for a bridge at Halim Master's ghat but no measures have been taken. As a result, the people of these eight chars have to spend time and extra money to cross the 50-metre canal of the Padma River. They have raised a strong demand for a bridge here.