Tangail, June 30 (V7N) – "China’s sorrow is the Yellow River, and the sorrow of Mahmudnagar’s people is the Dhaleshwari." With deep frustration, Rifatul Islam Ripon, a former student leader and overseas expatriate from Mahmudnagar, voiced the heartfelt plight of his community.

The arduous journey of crossing the Dhaleshwari River by foot through a scorching sun and shifting sands—sometimes walking nearly a kilometer—has long been a painful reality for residents of Mahmudnagar. During the rainy season, crossing the river by boat becomes a matter of life and death. Missing the boat often means losing valuable opportunities such as jobs, exams, or even medical treatment. Many have suffered due to delayed access to hospitals, with lives tragically lost. The absence of a proper bridge has left this river island community isolated and neglected for years. Now, the locals strongly demand the construction of the “Mahmudnagar Bridge” over the Dhaleshwari River to end their suffering.

Mahmudnagar Union was established in 2004, located 14 kilometers west of Tangail city. It consists of about 24 villages and is home to approximately 30,000 people living across 4,200 families. The total area of the union is 8 square kilometers. The literacy rate stands at 70.5%. The main occupations are income from overseas employment and agriculture. The union boasts 5,125 acres of cultivable land, nourished by 22 canals and 15 wetlands. Known as a “Golden Island” for its fertile soil, the area was previously part of Katuli Union until its establishment as a separate union.

The birthplace of former Home Minister Major General Mahmudul Hasan, Mahmudnagar benefits from paved roads up to Golchattar, but beyond that, the absence of the Dhaleshwari Bridge forces residents to cross the river either by foot across the sandy riverbank in dry season or by often unreliable boats during the monsoon. This crossing route serves thousands, including students, businessmen, and workers from Mahmudnagar as well as neighboring unions such as Chouhali of Sirajganj and Bhardra of Nagarpur.

Mahmudnagar’s soil is highly fertile, producing rice, jute, wheat, and various vegetables. The river also provides fresh fish. Several important local markets, including Shahjani, Karimganj, Baliapara, Chanboyra, and Katuli, serve as economic hubs for villagers and city dwellers alike.

Educational institutions in the union include two secondary schools—Major Mahmudul Hasan High School and Baliapara High School—alongside a full-fledged technical school, ten primary schools, a Fazil madrasa, and multiple Hafiziya madrasas. A Union Family Welfare Center provides basic health services.

Prominent figures from the area include former chairman Abdul Karim Talukdar and the selfless Rajab Ali Sarkar, whose legacies still influence the community.

Jahangir Alam, AGM of Janata Bank Tangail Corporate Branch, highlighted the hardships faced due to the lack of the Dhaleshwari Bridge. He explained how farmers struggle to transport their produce to the city markets, incurring high costs and delays by relying on horse-drawn carts over sandy paths. Students, expatriates, and patients face similar difficulties. Many miss flights after missing the boat, and emergency patients have died due to delayed hospital access. He expressed frustration that despite promises from politicians, the bridge project has yet to materialize.

Local farmers Munnaf Ali and Abdul Jabbar Ali echoed the call for the bridge, stating that they lose profit due to the difficulties and costs involved in timely transportation of their crops.

Shanta Akter, a tenth-grade student at Major Mahmudul Hasan High School, described the challenges of traveling on dusty sandy roads or waiting long hours to cross by boat during the monsoon, emphasizing how a bridge would greatly ease their daily lives.

Van driver Shariful Islam also spoke about the difficulties of ferrying vehicles during the rainy season and driving on rough sandy roads at other times, urging for the construction of the bridge.

Sobhan, the boat leaseholder for nearly 26 years, shared that despite charging small fees (10 taka for motorcycles, 30 taka for CNGs and private cars), many passengers travel without paying. The annual lease cost ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 taka. He believes a bridge would alleviate many of these issues.

Residents including Amir Molla of Subarnatali, Kamrul of Kukuria, Shafiqul of Shahjani, Sirajul Islam, Abdur Rahman, and Rawan Bibi of Makorkol unanimously agree that the Dhaleshwari Bridge is urgently needed and would boost the economy of western Tangail.

LGED engineer Ibadat Ali stated that planning and surveying for the Dhaleshwari Bridge have been completed. The estimated construction cost is approximately 30 billion taka. They are currently awaiting a large budget allocation to commence construction.

Mahmudnagar Union Chairman Aslam Sikdar recounted how the tender for the bridge was approved in 2008 during the BNP government under the leadership of former Home Minister Major General Mahmudul Hasan, but the project stalled after the Awami League came to power. He appealed for urgent construction of the bridge in the name of their guardian, Major General Mahmudul Hasan, to bring development and relieve the longstanding suffering of Mahmudnagar’s residents.

END/BKC/SMA/