Residents suffering as major city road blocked

Barishal city's new mayor, Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, took oath in Dhaka yesterday, but residents of his city have been suffering for two days as a major thoroughfare of the city has been blocked off for his reception, to be held today.

Since Sunday, residents of the city are having to take a long detour around Fazlul Haque Avenue, one of the main roads of the city, as Barishal City Corporation (BCC) authorities are setting up a huge marquee there for the new mayor's reception.

The road, where the Nagar Bhaban (BCC headquarters) is situated, runs through the city's commercial hub.

It houses a number of key installations, including the court, various administrative buildings and the river port.

Marjina Begum, 35, with a baby in her arms, was seen walking near the reception area as she could not find a transport to get to her destination.

She said she would have been able to avoid the struggle, if the authorities properly informed the residents of the road closure before actually closing it.

Many others were seen crossing through the road on foot, as they had to get off their vehicles.

However, Ismail Hossain, acting chief executive officer of BCC, claimed that a section of Fazlul Haque Avenue has been left open to allow traffic. Receptions for previous mayors were arranged at the same place in the same manner before, he also said.

Marking the reception, BCC has set up decorative lighting and at least 50 decorative gates and numerous billboards all over the city.