Making a difference
The Daily Star Awardee: Road of love, toil
Soinuddin builds one all by himself to lessen sufferings of fellow villagers
Mohammad Soinuddin Miah, a poor farmer from Chakgagadhar village in Tangail's Nagarpur upazila who almost single-handedly constructed an earthen road to ease the sufferings of his fellow villagers, now hopes to see it concreted over by the authorities concerned.
It took four years of his unparalleled labour and perseverance to build the 1.5km-long road that facilitates the daily commute of the villagers to the nearest local market and education institutions.
"I gave my land and labour and spent my money to construct the road. The villagers also helped me by giving their lands," he said.
Before the road was constructed, the villagers used narrow ridge to go to the local market for trading. It was also the only passage for their children to school.
But during monsoon, that passage would go under waist-deep water causing immense sufferings. With no easy alternative route, the villagers had to take a boat or wade through water to go about their business.
The road has already taken a shape and light vehicles like easy bikes, car and microbuses are already using it, Soinuddin said, adding that a little effort from the government's concerned department can turn the road into a concrete one and make my effort a success.
The 45-year-old farmer said he, along with fellow villagers, called on the local administration as well as the public representatives several times to pave the road but was yet to get any response.
Soinuddin's wife Lucky Begum said her husband worked alone till midnights for constructing the road as he had to work in the field during daytime.
"What Soinuddin has not done to build the road? He sold the paddy that we had stored for our family's consumption. He turned his cropland into a pond to supply soil for the road. He moved door to door to convince villagers so that they donate their land for the sake of the road.
"My husband has done almost everything that could be done on his part. Now the government should make the road a concrete one," she added.