More than 500 vegetable and agricultural producers in Nilগঞ্জ Union of Kalapara, Patuakhali, are facing severe transport difficulties because there is no permanent bridge over the Pakhimara canal. For nearly 30 years, farmers from Kumirmara, Neyamatpur and Elempur have carried produce through mud, by boat and across a risky floating bridge to reach the wholesale market in Pakhimara.

Residents say the three villages produce vegetables and other farm goods worth about Tk20 crore to Tk25 crore annually and meet roughly 70 percent of Kalapara upazila's vegetable demand. Surplus produce is sent daily by bus, truck and pickup to wholesale markets in other parts of the country. During monsoon, earthen internal roads become muddy and unusable, forcing distant farmers to use boats.

Farmers currently depend on a wooden floating deck built on drums with their own funds to cross the roughly 300-foot-wide canal. Officials say a 490-metre girder bridge is planned under the Local Government Engineering Department. Upazila Engineer Moniruzzaman said implementation is expected as quickly as possible if ECNEC approval is obtained.