Sons carry mother through mud on bamboo chair to seek treatment

Two sons had to carry their ailing mother to hospital in a chair hung from a bamboo pole, wading through mud and water due to dilapidated roads in the border village of Khiyarmamudpur in Dinajpur's Birampur upazila.

Locals witnessed the scene around 10am on Thursday, August 6.

It was learned that Tapoti Rani, a woman in her sixties, was injured when an old papaya tree fell on her, causing serious injuries to her waist and left leg. Although family members tried to rescue her, they could not get her to hospital quickly due to the muddy roads.

With no other option, they tied a plastic chair to a bamboo pole with rope, placed Tapoti Rani on it, and her two sons, Gautam Basak and Uttam Basak, carried her about half a kilometre on their shoulders along the unpaved road to the local market, from where she was taken to Birampur Upazila Health Complex by easy-bike.

Uttam Basak, the son, said, "It is extremely difficult to walk on this road. Only God knows and I know how much hardship I faced carrying my mother on this road. The road is very muddy. Tractors and power tillers have completely ruined it."

Locals said the condition of the approximately 4.5-kilometre road in Khiyarmamudpur village has been deteriorating for a long time. During the rainy season, the mud and water make travel a nightmare, making it difficult for vans or other vehicles to pass.

Sahera Begum, a resident, said, "Pregnant women suffer the most because of this road. During emergencies, they cannot be taken to hospital quickly."

Local UP member Shukur Ali said the road has been reported to the concerned department since 2022 for paving, but work has not yet begun.

Birampur Upazila Sub-Assistant Engineer Suruzzaman Miah said proposals have been sent to pave about 100 kilometres of unpaved roads in the upazila, including the Khiyarmamudpur road. Upon approval, the road will be prioritised for paving.