Bicycle helicopter service now a story

MANZURUL ALAM MUKUL back from SATKHIRA, Aug 16: A helicopter is an aircraft with long blades on top that goes round very fast. It is able to stay still in the air and move straight upwards or downwards. Although the name of helicopter adds after bicycle, it is not able to fly in the air. This bicycle helicopter is only ridded on the ground.

The vehicle was originated to make transportation system easily in the southwestern part of Bangladesh where most of the roads in remote areas were unmetalled and impassable.

The back carrier of a two-while bicycle is extended about one and half feet and it is covered with foam and other soft clothes so that passengers get comfortable sitting on the place. The front side rod of a bicycle is also covered with foam or soft clothes so that one can sit on the rod. At least two passengers ride a bicycle helicopter at a time.

 

Once bicycle helicopter service was one of the popular vehicles in the southwestern part of Bangladesh, especially in the districts of Satkhira, Khulna and Jessore. It is not clearly unveiled how bicycle helicopter was named.

 

But, it can be seemed the name of bicycle helicopter lies in to its name like a helicopter that goes round very fast and it is able to stay still in the air and move straight upwards or downwards easily. In same way people of the remote areas of this region by the vehicle could travel easily from one place to another on unmetalled and impassable roads.

 

Possibly, the bicycle helicopter service was introduced in 1968-1969. From that time most of the rivers of this area began to be silted and the traditional naval transportation system of the area began to face crisis and therefore bicycle helicopter service began to be an alternative to boats and other water vessels. About three decades the vehicle was very popular in the southwestern part as most of the roads in the area were unmetalled and impassable.

 

Once over 10 thousand of people were engaged in the occupation of driving bicycle helicopter and dozens of the vehicle were found in important places, markets and crossings.  But the better days of the vehicle is no more today.

 

The number of bicycle helicopters dramatically decreased in recent years. The drivers of bicycle helicopters have shifted their occupation to other jobs.

 

Although one or two pieces of bicycle helicopters can be found in important places, its drivers are about to shift their occupation due to unfavorable situation. Cycle helicopters are now not able to compete with other vehicles like bus, motor-cycle helicopter, engine van, general vans, etc. 

 

In recent years, a large number of roads in the area have been developed and become more passable from the previous times as a result number of those vehicles have increased significantly and journey by the vehicles have become more comfortable from bicycle helicopter.

 

In recent visit to different places of the region, a few number of bicycle helicopters were seen. Two bicycle helicopters were found at Binerpota under Satkhira Sadar Upazila, two at Patkelghata under Tala Upazila, one at Keshabpur in Jesosre, and three at Boalia under Paikgacha in Khulna.

 

A shopkeeper under Patkelghata Over Bridge talking to risingbd.com informed that five/seven years ago about 25/30 bicycle helicopters were found here all the times.  But, it is now very difficult to find out one or two. Those who are in the occupation don’t get passengers.

 

A Nirmal Sadhu (60) of Shrimontakati under Tala Upazila said, he is still 40 years in the occupation, once he would earn minimum Tk 100 everyday and maintain his family properly but he is now unable to maintain his family as he doesn’t earn enough money.

 

At that golden time, passengers would book his vehicle one or two day ago but now passengers avoid his vehicle, he also said.
 
Abdul Zabbar Biswas (60) at Shalika Crossing under Khesra Union described the same saying that he is not able to leave the occupation as he is with the vehicle driving during the War of Liberation.

 

Chaker Ali Gazi at Shapur Village under Tala Upazila informed that he had left the profession but did not get proper job yet.