Introduction:

Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project – a community-based disaster and climate resilience life & livelihood project for the coastal people, and Center for Rural Service Society (CRSS) is a local development organization of the southern coastal belt region of Bangladesh. Kerk in Actie (KIA), The Netherlands is financing the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project. CRSS has been implementing the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project since June 2023 in the Nilganj Union of Kalapara Upazila under Patuakhali District which is one of the most vulnerable locations of the southern coastal belt of Bangladesh in terms of climate change impacts. Under the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project, CRSS recently implemented a renovation program of a floating bridge in the working location successfully under the community-based structural protection support for disaster risk reduction activity of the project. The floating bridge renovated under the project has been playing an important role in the socio-economic context of the local community. In the initial stage, the floating bridge was a product of the local people’s innovative thinking, and considering their movement, the local people built this floating bridge on their initiative with drums and wood about 6 years ago. But for the last 2-3 years, the floating bridge has not been able to play an appropriate role in improving the life and livelihood of the local people due to the lack of necessary renovation activities. Therefore, the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team feels and believes that the renovated floating bridge will play an important role in the sustainability of the lives and livelihoods of the local community.

Background:

The floating bridge belongs to the 3 & 4 no. wards of the Nilgonj Union. There are four villages in these 3 and 4 no. wards. These two wards are the most densely populated areas in the Union and over 8000 community members are living in these 4 villages. The floating bridge is the only means of movement of these four villagers to go to the focal point of the Union. As a result of long time use and no renovation work, the bridge became fragile and nobody at the government or private or non-government level took any interest in the renovation of this bridge. So, the villagers all time would have to move crossing the broken bridge with risk.

Earlier before renovation, the fragile and unusable floating bridge first came to the attention of the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team when the project team was working on data collection of the project area through PRA at the preliminary stage. Later, when the ward-based Community Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) was being conducted by the project team, the community members of Ward Number 3 and 4 of Nilganj Union highlighted the fragility of the floating bridge during the assessment and they made a strong appeal for the renovation of the floating bridge on behalf of the people of Ward number 3 and 4 considering the mass people interest. Meanwhile, at the Project Inception Meeting of the Project, the honorable Chairman of the Nilganj Union also made a strong appeal for renovation support of the fragile floating bridge to the Chief Executive of the CRSS and Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project Management Body highlighting the problems facing the community members due to the fragility of the floating bridge. On the same day, the Chairman inspected the existing condition of the bridge with the Executive Head and Project Management Body of CRSS and made a humble request on behalf of the Union to support the renovation of the bridge. Considering the mass people’s interest, the Chief Executive of CRSS and the Head of Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project instructed the project team to observe the situation for two months and to report to him the observations. By this time, the Chairman of Nilganj Union made a formal application to the Chief Executive of the CRSS mentioning the renovation support of the floating bridge including a tentative budget. As per instruction, the project team also talked with various persons on the bridge usage and based on their observations submitted their report to the Chief Executive Officer of CRSS on the need for renovation support of the floating bridge. During the observation period, the project team had an opportunity to meet and exchange views with the Floating Bridge Maintenance Committee and the Bridge Maintenance Committee also appealed to the CRRS mentioning the need for assistance for the renovation of the floating bridge. The Chairman also acts as an advisor to the floating bridge maintenance committee. Besides, the project team also found the UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) of the Kalapara Upazila as the chief advisor of the floating bridge maintenance committee and shared views with the UNO on the renovation of the floating bridge. The UNO welcomed the initiative and urged for the renovation of the floating bridge considering the mass public interest too. After being apprised of all the relevant issues and after collecting all the relevant documents, the Executive Head of CRSS informed Matida Tina B. Baroi, the Portfolio Coordinator, KIA Bangladesh, about the need to renovate the floating bridge in the view of public importance and formally appealed to her for renovation support. The honorable Portfolio Coordinator Matilda Tina B. Baroi also took an interest in the renovation of this floating bridge under the Nirapd Jibon Jibika Project considering public importance and approved the renovation work. In the meantime, when the KIA Portfolio Coordinator Matilda Tina B Baroi came to visit the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project, she inspected the floating bridge and after observing the overall condition of the floating bridge with her own eyes and taking into consideration of the overall condition of the community members, Matilda Tina B Baroi instructed the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team to undertake the renovation work of the floating bridge as soon as possible. After following several rounds of discussions with the Bridge Maintenance Committee, based on the 80 % project contribution and 20% community contribution, the renovation of the floating bridge was finalized and through 15 days of continuous activities, the renovation of the floating bridge was carried out under the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project with the cooperation of Nilganj Union Parishad and the local community.

Importance of the Renovation of the Floating Bridge:

The floating bridge is located on a canal called Kumirmara. Kumirmara is also the name of a village which belongs to Ward No. 4 of Nilganj Union. On one side of the canal is Kumirmara village of Ward No. 4 and on the other side Pakhimara village which belongs to Ward No. 5.  8000 community members of 4 villages including Kumirmara of Ward No. 3 and 4 on one side of the canal who use the bridge have to cross the canal every day to reach Pakhimara on the other side for their daily needs. Pakhimara is the focal point of Nilganj Union and a commercial center of Kalapara Upazila and Nilganj Union. Pakhimara is located next to the Dhaka-Kuakata highway and the residents of Nilganj Union have to go to various places along this highway including Kalpara and Patuakhali. Local educational institutions, health service centers and other government service centers are ‍also located in Pakhimara. It is well known to all that the water of the coastal area especially the local rivers of Kalapara upazila remains salty most of the year. In this case, the Kumirmara canal on which the floating bridge is situated is considered a freshwater canal running north-south through Pakhimara and Kumirmara villages between Ward No. 4 and 5 of the Nilganj Union. The flow of saline water has been stopped here by blocking one side of the canal. The canal is very long 330 feet wide and is the only freshwater reservoir in the 4 villages opposite Pakhimara. The bridge users’ local community members of the four villages utilizing this fresh water from the canal cultivate vegetables throughout the year and have earned a very good reputation for vegetable growing as ‘Sabji Palli’ in the Patuakahli District. The vegetables of these 4 villages are going to different parts of Bangladesh after meeting the needs of their areas. Crossing the bridge more than 20 tons of vegetables and agricultural products are transported to the nearest market every day from these 4 villages. This floating bridge is the only means of going to school and college for about 1500 students on the eastern bank of the canal. The bridge users’ local community members of the four villages have to go to the other side of the canal for access to health and other services. Thus, this bridge plays a significant role in the lives and livelihoods of about 8,000 people in these 4 villages. An iron bridge connected Kumirmara village on the east side of the canal and Pakhimara market on the west side. About 6 years ago, when the iron bridge suddenly collapsed, the local people built a wooden floating bridge with drums and wood on their own initiative and volunteering without any support from the government, non-government or private sector.

However, due to the passing of 6 long years and no renovation, this bridge was shaky. The wood was broken in many places. In many parts, the drum was leaking and water was entering. Most of the floating bridge was unusable. As a result, bridge users community people of all ages in the four villages especially farmers, students, the elderly, and children had to suffer a lot and often got into accidents while crossing the bridge. Boats were then the only way to transport pregnant and sick patients.

Considering the various aspects mentioned above, the renovation initiative of the floating bridge carries much importance in the context of the socio-economic development of the bridge users’ local communities of the four villages.

Renovation Activities:

On the basis of 80% Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project contribution and 20% community contribution the renovation activities of the floating bridge had been carried out from 31 January 2024 to 14 February 2024. As part of the renovation work, a 350 wide floating bridge has been constructed over the 330 feet wide canal where there was a 330 wide floating bridge earlier.  350 KP of wood, 84 drums, 110 kg various sizes of nails, 80 kg of rope of various sizes, and 10 gallons of paint had been used to build this renovated floating bridge. Out of the 84 drums, 13 were newly replaced, while the rest were reused from the old bridge. Besides, all other materials are procured newly. In addition, four assistant carpenters including two chief carpenters, eight general laborers and four supporting painters including one chief painter were engaged in this renovation activities. On behalf of the local community members, 20% of the community contribution was managed by the floating bridge maintenance committee members. The project team on behalf of the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project supervised the overall activities to make the renovation process sustainable and transparent. The members of the Floating Bridge Maintenance Committee were also engaged in overall supervision from their position and assisting in various stages of the renovation activities. As earlier the community members had built this floating bridge on their initiative, and they contributed greatly to the successful construction of this renovated bridge by sharing their expertise and skills. Without their cooperation, the success of this renovation program would have been impossible. The honorable Chairman of the Union Parishad has played a major role in the collection of various materials used in the renovation activities besides his regular supervision. The honorable Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kalapara has played an important role in making this renovated floating bridge sustainable and strong with his valuable opinion.

Thus, through the collective participation of all, especially the contribution of both the beneficiaries and stakeholders, the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team has completed the renovation activities of the floating bridge.

Challenges:

When the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team embarked on this floating bridge renovation activities, had to face many challenges, such as –

1. Short duration: As the bridge is the only means of crossing for the local public, the bridge cannot be closed for a long time;

2. Low budget: The low-cost budget of the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project considering current market overall material prices and labor wages, and uncertainty of the community contribution;

3. Employment of experienced and skilled manpower: Even if skilled and experienced manpower were available, it was not possible to employ them at high wages.

However, overcoming all of these challenges Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team succeeded in accomplishing the renovation activities of the floating bridge within the scheduled time.

Lesson Learned:

There are many skilled and experienced people among the community members. Again, many people in the community have the mentality of contributing to the public interest of their area. If these types of community members can be identified and motivated properly with the support of stakeholders, many challenging tasks can be done sustainably and within a small budget through their contribution.

Sustainability:

As part of the renovation process and based on feedback from stakeholders and community members, the floating bridge uses sustainable materials and has been designed in such a way that the bridge remains strong and usable for a long time. When the floating bridge renovation process commenced, the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team got an existing local committee on the bridge maintenance. The NJJ project team found this committee very active in the bridge renovation activities especially in managing community contributions and regular monitoring of the bridge renovation works and providing valuable feedback on the sustainability of the bridge. Local Union Parishad Chairman and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) are the members of this committee. The Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project Team handed over the floating bridge to this Bridge Maintenance Committee after completing the bridge renovation activities considering the floating bridge as a local asset. Therefore, the Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project team believes that the Bridge Maintenance Committee will be active in the maintenance of the floating bridge in the future too. As the bridge maintenance committee managed the part of the community contributions during the bridge renovation activities, in the future the committee will continue to work by collecting contributions from the community members or donations from the committee members or by forming funds through any source for the repair of any part of the floating bridge in the future – which was the promise of the bridge maintenance committee at the time of handing over the renovated floating bridge. This commitment shows that the Bridge Maintenance Committee will be committed to keeping this floating bridge sustainable in the future. In addition, there are 4 community-based groups of Nirapad Jibon Jibika Project in the 2 wards of the floating bridge users who will maintain the bridge as an asset of their area and they are being motivated accordingly. To keep the floating bridge sustainable for a long time, the bridge maintenance committee has already banned all types of vehicles such as motorcycles and cows, and buffaloes on the bridge. It is hoped that the current initiatives taken by the Bridge Maintenance Committee will continue in the future as a result the floating bridge will be durable and usable for a long time.