Shahagir Bakth Faruk, MSc, FRSPH
I cannot remember the exact year , most probably 1956. However I do remember the circumstances as developed while I was having lunch with my elder brother in our Arpinnagar house in Sunamganj. Someone came up running and breathlessly announced a breaking News that a Rickshaw has come to our town. As soon as we heard this unexpected and unheard thrilling News both brothers left behind our food, stood up, ignored our mother’s plea to finish meal, shouted and relayed the exciting news to other children in our neighbourhood, teamed up and started to run towards the town to see the Rickshaw we never saw in our lifetime. On the way the pedestrians directed us the exact location where the Rickshaw was parked. I could not believe myself when my eyes contacted with this beautiful vehicle parked stationary on the road in between the Court and the Pouro college, adjacent to Govt Jubilee High School. What a beautiful sight it was. A small crowd arrived before us was already encircling the object, starring at this strange transporter ,never witnessed by anyone in Sunamganj before. I was so fortunate. My elder brother ushered me front to get more closer look of this three wheeled vehicle , staring, touching,feeling and getting comfort out of it. We all got so excited, so satisfied, and became a part of the talk of the town and most importantly became a part of the history that this Rickshaw had made in this small sub-divisional town. In those days there were no proper roads built of concrete or asphalt. Most of the roads were narrow and few had pebbles all over its surface. Rickshaw-pullers found it difficult to run over these roads. The one and only road was under construction with bricks where the Rickshaw stood. It stretched from point (old college) upto Shuloghar. The rests were unworthy of Rickshaw users. But then again the new arrival of Rickshaw was a gift for the town. It was a celebration, a new dawn, a new chapter in the history of the town. The town got the Rickshaw before getting Electricity, gas, gas cookers, Fridges, Cars or any other modern inventions of today. The demand of Rickshaw started to grow and so we saw the supplies coming in. But then again the Rickshaw pullers refused to pick up their passengers from small narrow inner roads. They would prefer to pick up passengers from main road. However if you paid them extra they wouldn’t mind picking up elderly passengers from off roads. I remember waiting for hours for a Rickshaw in the junction of Jamaipara and old bus stand because of small number and demand of Rickshaws. Today you don’t need to wait in a particular place for a Rickshaw. You have many alternatives. CNG, Cars, Motorbikes, Baby taxi, Tempu, Mishuk etc. In fact it is too hazardous now a days even to cross a road because of plenty of Rickshaws and other means of transportation in this very town of Sunamganj which is no more a subdivision but a district town. The hustle and bustle of this district town reminds the quietness , serenity and tranquility of olden days. Who knows what will be scenario of the same roads of the same town some sixty years on. This is certainly a concern of today, remains to be seen and experienced by Sunamganjians of tomorrow.