Shahriar Kabir, Paikgachha
The Lata-Deluti ferry crossing on the Deluti River in Paikgachha, Khulna is listed under the Local Government Department. Despite the government collecting revenue every year, the western bank of the Lata-Deluti ferry crossing has not been developed. Hundreds of people, including school and college students, have been suffering daily for a long time. This bridge has become a death trap.
On the spot, it can be seen that the Lata-Deluti Kheyaghat is located adjacent to the house of former chairman of Lata Union Chittaranjan Mondal. In this area, people of different classes and professions, including employees, can easily cross the Kheyaghat to reach Paikgachha Upazila headquarters. Deluti Secondary School, Deluti Jirbunia Primary School, the Zilla Parishad pond, and the weekly market are located in this village. Every morning and afternoon, numerous women from Lata village cross the Kheyaghat to Deluti government pond, and use the water from the tube well adjacent to the enclosure of a man named Salauddin for drinking and cooking.
Anita Roy, a student of grade 8 of Deluti Secondary School, said that every day, about a hundred students from Lata village have to cross the river to Deluti Secondary School. Although some parts of our river crossing are paved on the east bank, there is no paved ghat on the west bank. They have to cross the river every day, taking risks. Many times, their feet slip and fall into the mud, their books and notebooks get damaged, their clothes get damaged, and they have to return home without going to school. Ramesh, a student of grade 10, said that during high tide, the river is somewhat easier to cross, but when the river is low, it is very difficult to go to school, trampling their knees in the mud. Subrata Kumar Sana, the headmaster of Deluti Secondary School, said that since there is no paved ghat on the west bank of the river crossing, the students have to cross the river on a dilapidated bamboo bridge with a length of 2/3 ropes.
Boatman Parimal Das said that more than 200 school children cross from Lata every day. In addition to the bridge at low tide, passengers have to endure the hardship of walking on the char and mud to board the boat. UP member Kingshuk Roy said that the official ferry located on the west bank of Lata Deluti has not been renovated for a long time, hundreds of people have to cross every day at great risk. The locals have demanded that the ferry be renovated soon. Deluti UP Chairman Ripon Mondal said that the navigability of the river is increasing day by day due to climate change, and the char has increased due to the filling of the river.
Upazila Executive Officer Mahera Nazneen said, "We will try to quickly repair the ghat through government assistance."
Shahriar Kabir
