Madhumati devours key road
People of 9 villages in Madhukhali upazila use the 7-km road, stretching from Kamarkhali Bazar to Bir Srestho Shaheed Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Library and Memorial Museum
A 300-metre-long portion of the lone road stretching from Kamarkhali Bazar to Bir Srestho Shaheed Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Library and Memorial Museum has been devoured by the Madhumati river in the district seven days ago, causing immense sufferings to commuters.
Especially critical patients and students of different educational institutions in Madhukhali upazila are the worst sufferers.
Locals said over 5000 people of nine villages in the upazila use the seven-km-long road every day, facing untold sufferings since 300-metre-long portion of the road was devoured by the river on November 24.
As the road has become almost unfit for vehicular movement, they have to walk a long distance to reach their destination, said the villagers.
They have to suffer a lot when they need to take a critical patient to the upazila or district headquarters, said local people.
During a visit, this correspondent found that Bir Srestho Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Primary School, Dayarampur High School, Dayarampur Government Primary School, Bir Srestho Shaheed Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Library and Memorial Museum and around 50 homesteads are now under threat of erosion by the river.
Md Rajib Sheikh, a student of Bir Srestho Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Degree College, said students of the area fell in great trouble after the road went into the river.
At present, they have to walk more three kilometers to reach their institutions, he said.
Faruk Hossain, a grower of Salamotpur village, said a large number of farmers are facing difficulties every day while carrying agro-products to local market.
Md Badsha Mia, rickshaw-van puller of Dayarampur village, said they remained workless since the road was devoured by the river.
There is nobody to see their sufferings, said Badsha.
Jahidur Rahman, chairman of Kamarkhali Union Parishad, said he urged the Water Development Board (WDB) authorities to take immediate steps to save the area from river erosion, considering the sufferings of the commuters.
Faridpur WDB Executive Engineer Sultan Mahmud said they have already informed the ministry concerned about the matter, but to no effect yet.