Desk Report:
The dinghy boat has no skipper. A long rope is hanging from the shackles tied to both sides. The villagers have to cross the Shiv River every day by pulling this rope. This river, about 100 yards wide, is also the main route for children and students in the village to go to school. In addition to hundreds of people, hundreds of students cross this way throughout the day. Parents said that incidents of falling into the water at this time are not new. Young students in Naogaon village of Mohanpur upazila of Rajshahi are in such suffering.
Parents say that students often fall into the water while getting on and off the boat or while pulling the rope to steer the boat. Most recently, a third-grade student fell into the water last Wednesday. A major accident was averted when his classmates quickly caught him. Later, locals went and rescued him.
When they went to the village, it was seen that the students had boarded the dinghy boat to cross the river. At that time, Faruk Hossain, a student of Naogaon Government Primary School, said, “It is scary to get into the boat alone. When you go into the middle of the river, the boat moves away in the current.” Then it was difficult to pull the rope to the bank. When I went to private school, my father would cross. In the afternoon, my mother or older brothers from the area would often help me cross. Yesterday, a student from our class fell.’
Sampa Khatun, a fourth-grade student, said, ‘When the water rises during the monsoon, it is difficult to get on the boat. Many times, I fall off the boat. My books and notebooks get wet, making it difficult to study.’ Assistant teacher Shirin Akhter, who was with the students, said, ‘Although the current is low now, a few days ago there was a strong current. Then it became dangerous to cross in a small boat. The adults were afraid, the risk was even greater for children. Earlier, there was a bamboo bridge here, but since it broke, people have been crossing this way. If there is a bridge, the suffering of many people will be reduced.’
Locals said that there was once a bamboo bridge on the Shiv River. After it broke, this dinghy boat became the only hope. Thousands of people and students cross in boats every day. Malidah and Gopail villages are to the north of the river, and Naogaon village is to the south. More than a hundred children from three villages go to Naogaon Government Primary School every day. This 120-year-old school once had more than two hundred students. Now the number has come down to 118.
According to the school teachers, since the bridge was broken, parents have been enrolling their children in other schools for safety reasons. Parent Nuresa Begum said, “Yesterday, a student fell into the river. He survived because his classmates caught him. Every day, we have to worry about when the children will return home.”
Parent Shahidul Islam said, “Every morning, noon and afternoon, we have to stand on the banks of the river after leaving work to help our children cross. Many have been admitted to distant schools due to the risk. However, our demand is the same – if there is a bridge here, people from four to five villages will benefit.” Local Munjila Sardar, who is fishing in the river, also said the same. According to him, ‘People have been crossing this boat since the bridge collapsed. Accidents happen frequently. If there is a bridge, the life of the people of four or five villages will become easier.’
When asked, the school’s headmaster, Mustafa Ahmed, said that about 60 students come by boat every day. They are all small people. There is always a fear of accidents. That is why parents are taking their children to other schools. Earlier, there were more than two hundred students, but now it has come down to almost half. Parents are directly saying that they will send their children here again if the bridge is built.’
Although attempts were made to contact the District Primary Education Officer in this regard, he did not pick up the phone. The phone of Mohanpur Upazila Executive Officer (Additional Duty) Liakat Salman was also not received. Since there is no mayor in Kesharhat Municipality, no comment was received from him either.
