<i>Ingenious event for Ctg road repairs</i>

This is in fact a protest scene. Locals, transport owners association and Swopnojatri, a social organisation, are mock-planting paddy seedlings on Arakan road of the port city to draw attention of the authorities concerned to the road's battered condition. The photo was taken yesterday.Photo: STAR

Frustrated with Chittagong Development Authority's negligence in repairing Arakan Road in Chittagong city, some 100 dwellers of adjoining Mowlvi Pukur Paar area started planting paddy on the road yesterday.
Supported by Jatri Sheba Paribahan Owners Association and Swapno Jatri, the ingenious protest went on for an hour till 11:30am. Another group of people stood alongside holding placards and banners demanding immediate repairs.
One resident of the area, Azam Masud, said CDA Chairman Abdus Salam did not take any initiative for the last two years though he traverses the road every day.
Rickshaw pullers now charge Tk 40 instead of the regular Tk 20 to cross the one-kilometre road. CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers do not even want to come to the area, he added.
Another resident, Mohammad Bokhtear Sowdagar, said heavy rainfall sends vehicles skidding along the road, causing accidents.