Village women build wooden bridge on self-help basis,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A group of women of Shiali village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila have built a wooden bridge on a canal flowing through the village in a day, thanks to their labour of love to solve a long time problem in the area.

Sixty-four women belonging to local association 'Shialli Nari Polly Samaj' started the work on voluntary basis on Monday morning and competed construction of the 50-foot-long wooden bridge across Shali canal the same day. Some male members of their family helped in their effort.

In absence of a bridge, over 1000 people underwent sufferings as they had to cross the canal to go to Patuakhali district town and other places.

"Earlier we urged the solvent people in the area to help build the bride but to no effect. Finding no alternative we planned to build a wooden bridge across the canal. Finally we completed the task through daylong work," said Shahida Begum, 42, leader of the group.

Forkan Sikder, vice chairman of Patuakhali Sadar upazila parishad, inaugurated the work in presence of some officials of NGO Brac at about 9:30am.

Forkan Sikder donated Tk 5,000 for the purpose.

Under 'women's empowerment programme', Brac organised the women in the village through 'Polly Samaj' that now comprises 64 members.

"We encouraged them to get organised and build up their capacities in social works by providing training. They themselves manage money for the purpose," said Md Mohsin Uddin, Patuakhali district manager of Brac.

"We meet every two months and take plan of works that are needed for the society. We also work for preventing child marriage and ill-treatment for dowry etc," Shahida said.