A longstanding sorrow for commuters

Thousands of commuters on Amua-Kathalia-Rajapur-Jhalakathi road have been experiencing untold sufferings for long as the road is in a dilapidated condition.

Eid holidaymakers will have to endure tailbacks while heading home this year.

Passengers, especially patients, of Kathalia and Rajapur upazilas of the district suffer a lot while travelling on the 31-km dilapidated road risking their lives every day.

The road connects Pathorghata and Bamna upazilas in Barguna and Kathalia and Rajapur upazilas in Jhalakathi with Khulna, Benapole, Jessore, Chittagong and Dhaka.

Goods-laden trucks, buses and other vehicles often get stuck in large potholes that are often filled with water during the rainy season.

“Five passengers were injured when my three-wheeler turned turtle after falling into a pothole in Amua area couple of weeks ago,” said driver Jakir Hossain of Amua area in Kathalia upazila.

Atik Jommadder, a madrasa teacher of the area, said, “As there is no alternatives we have to use the risky road to travel to Jhalakathi town and other parts of the country  for various purposes.”

Accidents are frequent on the road due to the large potholes, said Abdul Kuddus, a shopkeeper of Amua, adding he witnesses accidents regularly near his shop on the road. 

“Elderly patients suffer most when they have to use the bumpy road to go to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal,” said Khokon, an ambulance driver.

“The local buses do not run on the road because of its damaged condition and we have to use another road under Bhandaria of Pirojpur for going to our district headquarters, which costs more money and time as it takes twice as long.” said Md Fredous, a lecturer of Monoshita Women's College in Kathalia.

Jhalakathi Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Sheikh Nabil Hossain said a proposal for developing the road has been approved recently although they were trying to keep the road usable by repairing it regularly.