One lakh people suffer as 14-km road in bad shape

Around one lakh people of four unions under Patuakhali Sadar upazila are badly suffering as at least 14-km area of the 25-km road from Patuakhali Sadar upazila office to Khatashia Bazar in Borobighai union remains virtually unusable due to lack of renovation.

Patuakhali LGED (Local Government Engineering Department) built the 25-km road to ease communication for people of Kalikapur, Madarbunia, Chhotobighai and Borobighai unions.

The work started in 2000 and completed in 2005 at a cost of Tk 4.50 crore but the road hardly saw any renovation or repair afterwards, said officials and locals.

During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found that locals use the road amid risk as there is no alternative.

At places the road is hardly distinguishable from cultivated lands as the surface got removed.

The authorities concerned should take immediate steps for renovation of the road, said Abdus Sattar Molla, a resident of Kazirhat area in Chhotobighai union.

Md Altaf Hawlader, chairman of Chhotobighai union parishad (UP), said, “People have to suffer a lot as the road is unfit to use. We requested the LGED authorities for taking steps to repair the road.”

Md Anwar Hossain, a resident of Borobighai union, said the condition of the road has worsened during the ongoing monsoon.

Md Wahiduzzaman Mojnu Molla, chairman of Borobighai UP, said around one lakh people have to suffer as the only road connecting the upazila headquarters is in a bad shape.

“I raised the issue in the upazila development committee’s meeting on several occasions but in vain,” he added.

Contacted, Thirthojit Roy, executive engineer of Patuakhali LGED, said, “A Tk 24 crore project to renovate the road, jointly funded by the Bangladesh government and Japan International Cooperation Agency, was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last year. I hope the work will start in the upcoming dry season.”