BANGLADESH BORDER

Plight of villagers of Bandherkuthi

Bandherkuthi is a small village under Gitaldaha-II gram panchayat of Dinhata-I block. One has to arrive there after crossing the Dharala river by country boat from Kasemghat of Gitaldaha and then about 5-kilometre on foot along the alluvial land of the river upto Giridhari river. From here one have to walk again a few kilometres to reach the village. The area is very close to the Bangladesh border.

Once, Bandherkuthi was an intact village but due to the change of course of the Dharala the village is now divided in two parts. It is now resembles like an island. In total, about 40 families reside in this God's forgotten village. The villagers have no clear idea from where our country is separated from Bangladesh.

Like other underdeveloped and underprivileged villages the residents of Bandherkuthi too suffer from various problems. The indifference of the authorities made them to depend on neighbouring Bangladesh for different requirements.

As there is almost no road for plying of vehicles even rickshaw-vans, the villagers have to go on foot along the earthen ridge of farmlands to move from one place to another. Even during any election no leader or high official takes the pain to visit this area, complained the poor villagers. There is no modern facility like school, health centre, electricity, market, and drinking water supply in this area. The situation is similar in adjacent Jaridharla and Daribash villages.

During any emergent situation the villagers of Bandherkuthi have to go to Dinhata sub-divisional hospital after crossing two rivers and a few kilometres of alluvial lands and earthen ridges. Due to the difficulties they have to depend on the hospital at Mogulhat in Bangladesh, which is comparatively nearest than that of India's. Even, during the floods the villagers very often go to school buildings or other safer places in the neighbouring country. As no barbed wire fencing has been laid in this area to separate the two countries, the villagers of Bandherkuthi consider the people of that country as their actual neighbours.

Admitting the problems, the pradhan of Gitaldaha-II gram panchayat, Md Abdul Majid Mian said the village is like two divided islands and the villagers are deprived of many legitimate facilities. Though the matter was conveyed to the higher authorities several times but nothing was done yet, he said.

District Trinamul Congress secretary Mr Partha Nath Sarkar said they are planning a massive movement for the development of the area.

Dinhata-I Panchayat Samity sources said initiative was taken for setting up a subsidiary health centre and a Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra. A senior official of district administration too said that a proposal for construction of a bridge and a MSK is under consideration. However, the work may commence after receiving of funds, he added.