Villagers build 2km road at own initiative

People of South Kayarpara village in Jashore's Chaugachha upazila have set up an example of social work and continued to construct about two-kilometre road at own initiative.

A few hundred villagers led by local union parishad (UP) members--Shanto Islam and Abdus Samad-- have been volunteering the construction work of the road from Kayarpara village to Chaklar Beel (waterbody).

Local people said as there was no road from Kayarpara village to Chaklar Beel, they had to suffer a lot to drive their tractors or power tillers to their croplands along the beel.

Besides, they had to suffer immensely while harvesting their crops during the rainy season as no trawler or boat can enter their crop fields.

Farmers said due to the communication problem their crops got damaged sometimes and they have to incur losses.

They said in a bid to get rid of the trouble they all agreed to build the road at their own initiative in the last week of December last year.

As part of their work process they first started convincing villagers to donate portions of their land so that they can construct the road and ease people's sufferings, UP member Shanto said.

Surprisingly, within two to three days of the discussion, over 200 villagers, including Ismail Hossain, Tahajjul, Amjar Ghazi, Atiyar, Asha, Ahmed, Shahidul Islam, came forward and agreed to donate their land, he added.

Finally, they started the road construction work on Friday where more than two hundred villagers took part.

One of the volunteers Shamim Hossain said since there was no road to go to their fields, they had to carry their crops either on bull-drawn carts or on the head.

Shahidul, one of the land donor of the village, said he is happy to give his land for such a purpose that will benefit thousands of people of the locality.