Construction of Tahirpur-Badaghat road in Sunamganj could not be completed in 28 years. Meanwhile, a road in Satair union of Boalmari upazila in Faridpur has become impassable.
Our Sylhet Correspondent reports: Construction of 8-km Tahirpur-Badaghat road could not be completed even in 28 years due to negligence of the authority concerned although it is the only means of communication with the vast areas of Tahirpur upazila headquarters of Sunamganj.
Began in 1993, the construction of the important road remained incomplete as yet causing much inconveniences to over 0.1 million (one lakh) people of the remote frontier habitats. Small traders also have to suffer a lot while the sufferings go worse during the monsoon every year since it's a haor region.
In addition to the normal communication, the important road plays a vital role in linking three land customs stations-- Barchhara, Charagan and Bagli on the Meghalaya border. The imported limestone, stones, etc. are transported through this road while traders have to use the same for transporting sands and stones from the Jaduakata river.
On the other hand, tourist spots like Siraj Lake, Shimul Bagan, Borogope Tila, Lakmachhara, etc. are nearby. The two-kilometre portion from Hosnarghat to Patargaon on the road still remained kutcha while one km of that has to be crossed by small boats during the monsoon. The remaining one km is also in the worst state.
Due to rain every year the approach road of the small bridge at Takatukia gets risky for the pedestrians. Commercially-run motorbikers also suffer much in travelling the 5km road from Patargaon to Badaghat portion, locals alleged. The suffering of the women and children is extreme, they added.
Headmaster of the Chandpur Government Primary School on the Meghalayan foothills Serin Salmar said, "We have to face untold sufferings but there is no alternative. Some bikers, who run commercially on the road expressed serious annoyance due to the innumerable ditches on the road at places. Many of them have to stop the service often during monsoon."
Badaghat Bazaar Bonik Samity President Selim Haider said, "Cost of day to day items and necessary goods go up due to high transport cost. He demanded immediate steps for completing the road construction works."
An official at the LGED said, "The road gets damaged every year due to heavy rains. A revised proposal for the road's reconstruction has been awaiting approval from the higher authority while a bridge would also be constructed on the eroded part of it."
Our Faridpur Correspondent says: A road in Satair union of Boalmari upazila in Faridpur has become impassable due to its dilapidated state causing suffering to thousands of commuters.
Meanwhile, no one took any initiative to improve the road despite repeated complaints to the local chairman-members. In protest, the locals planted paddy saplings on the road. It has now become a talk of the area.
According to local sources, a few kilometres of the road from Madhyapara Arshad's house in Ward 9 of Satair Union in Boalmari upazila of the district to Tara Ali's house have become dilapidated. Thousands of people who have been travelling on this road for a long time are suffering every day.
At present, the road is covered with mud and water. This has become impassable. Many people are getting injured after falling down while walking on this road. In addition, one has to walk on this road, carrying shoes in hand.
According to the locals, the road is in a sorry state for a long time but no one is taking any action in this regard. The local chairman and members were apprised of the situation several times but to no effect. Occasionally, the locals cut the soil on their own initiative and repaired the road, but it becomes unfit for commuting during the rainy season.
Although the road users have been in trouble for a long time, the authorities do not have any headache. So the locals were forced to plant paddy saplings at different points of the road in protest.
Satair Union Parishad Chairman Mujibur Rahman said, "The condition of this road has been dilapidated for a long time. The road was renovated five years ago through Kabikha's project. But at present the condition of the road is very bad. The road is affiliated with LGED. We have repeatedly appealed to higher authorities to repair the road. Considering the locals' sufferings, it has become urgent to repair the road quickly."
Boalmari Upazila Executive Engineer. Rafiqul Islam said, "The road did not have any ID. The road will be repaired later with the correct ID".
