A political tool to win votes
Thousands of people of 20 villages under Habiganj's Nabiganj upazila and Moulvibazar Sadar upazila have been suffering immensely since an important road that connects the upazilas has not been repaired for the last 25 years.
People living in the area said local lawmakers and public representatives have intentionally kept the issue alive for years to use it as a tool to get votes.
But after winning the election race they forget that promise every time.
Faruq Ahmad, 68, of Dakkhin Daulatpur village said the one-kilometre road, stretching from Aushkandi Bazar of Nabiganj upazila via Amukona Betapur Eidgah to Faridpur of Moulvibazar Sadar upazila, has been lying in an awful state for many years, causing sufferings to the villagers, especially students and elderly ones.
During the 1996 national election, former minister late Dewan Farid Gazi assured the villagers that the road will be renovated if he is elected, Faruq said.
After getting his assurance, locals got united and voted for him, but the condition of the road remains unchanged.
After the death of lawmaker Farid Gazi, BNP leader Sheikh Sujat Miah, who contested in the 2012 by-election, promised to repair the road if he won the election battle, he said.
But the road was not renovated even though he won that election.
In 2014 national election, Jatiya Party candidate MA Munim Chowdhury Babu promised to do the same repair work if he won.
He conquered the election hurdle, but the scenario remains the same, Faruq added.
Meanwhile, Gazi Shahnawaz Milad, son of late Dewan Farid Gazi, who won the race in the 2018 national election, gave the nod to fulfil his father's promise, but did nothing and the important road has not been renovated after all these years.
Mojamil Mia of Daulatpur village said due to the awful condition of the road they have to face serious difficulties while taking any patients to the hospitals.
Auto-rickshaw driver Helal Mia said they do not use the road now as it is no longer suitable for vehicular movement.
Aushkandi Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Dilwar Hossain said there is a fewer chance that the road will be completed by this year as it is not included in the upcoming tender list.
Contacted, Lawmaker Gazi Shahnawaz Milad said the road renovation work will be conducted on a priority basis as it was his election promise.
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