Callous disregard
People suffer as Rangamati link road yet to be repaired
The nine-kilometre Ghagra Bazar-Kawkhali upazila link road, which was damaged in a landslide last year, has not yet been fully repaired, much to the suffering of commuters.
About 2,500 people of 20 villages in Kawkhali upazila use the road every day. Only some light vehicles run on the road.
Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) Executive Engineer Parvez Sarwar Hossain said 10 to 15 spots on the road were damaged in the landslide on June 13.
This correspondent on April 20 found very few CNG-run auto-rickshaws, jeeps and motorcycles were plying the road.
Santi Moni Chakma, 40, of Junuma Chhara, said he goes to Rangmati town everyday through the road for business purposes although it is risky to move there. He said it should be repaired as early as possible, otherwise, they would suffer more during the rainy season.
Mongola Debi Chakma, 45, of the village, said she does not know how long it will take to repair the road. “We go to the weekly market at Ghagra Bazar every Saturday and Tuesday. It will be good for us if the road is repaired soon,” she added.
CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver Sandha Raj Chakma said it is very difficult to drive vehicles on the road.
Ghagra Union Parishad Chairman Jogodish Chakma said he asked the authorities concerned to repair the road soon.
Engineer Parvez told this correspondent that some damaged places were repaired six months ago and the link road would be repaired as soon as possible.