<i>Hanging bridge on Toimathoi Chhara opens up opportunities</i>
Indigenous people cross over the hanging bridge constructed by the Bangladesh Army (Matiranga zone) on the Toimathoi Chhara canal at Matiranga under Khagrachhari.Photo: STAR
“Shashwata Bangla”, a hanging bridge, on the Toimathoi Chhara at Parshuramghat in Matiranga upazila under Khagrachhari hill district is not just a bridge to help people cross to and from the remote locality. Rather, it is more than that because of its far-reaching impact on the tiny area, alienated from modern civilisation for many decades. The area is located about five to six kilometres off Matiranga upazila headquarters and the serpentine and zigzag road is all earthen with numerous pimples and dimples. The area is divided into 20 small paras (villages). The bridge not only linked an isolated locality with other parts of the world but it also ushers in hope and aspiration for the poor, marginalised tribal people who are accustomed to lead a down-under livelihood from generation after generation. People like Kanchan Tripura, Ajit Tripura, Lalit Bikash Tripura and Greeha Rani Tripura of the Parshuramghat were once so despondent that they couldn't dare to anything but jhum cultivation and lead lives completely devoid of any dream or hope both for themselves and their next generations. Basic needs such as primary education, healthcare, safe motherhood and sanitation, and trade or business were matters of utopia to them until recently in absence of a bridge on the Toimathoi Chhara canal that separated the poor tribes and the small locality from everything. Nature mother had everything to offer in abundance to the area -- terrain of hills, beautiful fountains, dense forest, fertile land and lush green. But despite nature's so much favour, Parshuramghat and its people failed to come out of the clutches of poverty as the Toimathoi Chhara stands as a 'Himalayan' barrier in-between “Parshuramghat” and “Economic progress and emancipation.” With Ringkhum Chhara on its north, Toimathoi Chhara on east, Boro Pilak river on south and Feni river on the west, Parshuramghat usually destined to live in wretched condition for a period of three to four months during monsoon every year when the entire locality remains detached from other parts like a water-locked island. The heavy onrush of hilly water comes down on Toimathoi Chhara to make its current so ferocious that the people dare not to cross it (Toimathoi) with boat or other means risking their lives. During monsoon, the people remain marooned and faced untold sufferings including hunger as they couldn't go to upazila headquarters to sell their harvest and seasoned fruits. Besides, their children couldn't go to school, the nearest one is about five kilometres away the locality. Many of them die without getting treatment due to the inaccessible communication to health complex for lack of a bridge. Finally, the immense trials and tribulations the Parshuramghat people go through every year drew attention of the 26 Field Regiment of Matiranga Zone of Bangladesh Army and they decided to build a bridge, badly needed by the people for long, there. With direct supervision of Lt Col Abdullah Al Yousuf, Matiranga zone commander, construction of the bridge started in late August. A Parshuramghat Bridge Implementation Committee was formed headed by Major Mahmud and a contingent of 40 young army jawans successfully completed the dream bridge after two months of hard labour. “The most remarkable aspect of the 191-feet-long and 4-feet-wide bridge is its easy construction method and design. But because of inaccessibility of the area, mobilisation of resources for the bridge takes most of the construction time instead of actual work,” said Lt Col Yousuf to The Daily Star adding that the total cost was only Tk 5 lakh but it could be at least Tk 15 lakh if it was done in conventional way. About naming “Shashwata Bangla” of the bridge, the zone commander said, “The name is symbolic reflecting the harmony between the tribal and Bengali people and we believe this harmony is the real essence of our history, culture and tradition.” The smiles of Kanchan, Ajit, Lalit, Greeha Rani and other tribes of the area reflect how happy they are now when this correspondent talked to them during formal inauguration of the bridge on October 22. “The bridge has opened up an opportunity for elevating our livelihood and socio-economic condition,” Kanchan, father of two sons and a daughter, said. He said, “I think I would now be able to do other businesses along side jhum farming and earn additional money.” Ajit, Lalit and others echoed similar and thanked the army for building the bridge. Guimara Region Commander Brigadier General Md Latiful Haider inaugurated the bridge as the chief guest at a ceremony chaired by Lt Col Yousuf held near the bridge. Khagrachhari Hill District Council Chairman Monindra Lal Tripura and Matiranga Upazila Nirbahi Officer Afzalur Rahman were guests among others.
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